Mets erupt on offense in rout of Dodgers
NEW YORK -- The new-look Mets unloaded weeks of offensive frustration Saturday night at Citi Field, pummeling rookie Zach Lee and the Dodgers in a 15-2 victory that featured a pair of their newcomers.
Michael Conforto finished 4-for-4 with four runs scored in his second career game, Kelly Johnson homered and collected two hits in his Mets debut, Kirk Nieuwenhuis added a career-high four hits and Lucas Duda hit two home runs. Every member of the Mets' starting lineup -- even starting pitcher Matt Harvey, who was 2-for-4 with two RBIs -- reached base at least twice.
"This was one of those nights where everything went right for us," manager Terry Collins said. "Everybody wants to get in on the hit party."
The Mets simply overwhelmed Lee from the start of his big league debut, parlaying RBI hits from Daniel Murphy, Conforto and Nieuwenhuis into a four-run first inning. Lee was unable to escape the fifth, allowing 11 of the Mets' season-high 21 hits and seven of their season-high 15 runs.
On the mound, Harvey was not perfect, but hardly needed to be. Solo homers from Jimmy Rollins and Joc Pederson proved to be little more than inconveniences over his seven innings of two-run ball.
Video: LAD@NYM: Harvey holds Dodgers to two, drives in two
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Welcome to New York: Not known as a premier power hitter, Johnson flexed plenty of muscle in blasting a fifth-inning solo homer to the Pepsi Porch's upper reaches. Starting at cleanup and playing second base, Johnson finished 2-for-6 with two runs scored in his first game with the Mets.
Video: LAD@NYM: Johnson belts his first homer with the Mets
Game of inches: Although charged with four first-inning runs, Lee might have escaped the first allowing only one, had he not knocked down a Conforto grounder that appeared destined to be an inning-ending double-play ball to Rollins at shortstop. Instead, it went for an RBI infield single and was followed by Nieuwenhuis' seeing-eye two-run single. More >
"I should have let it go and see what happens," said Lee. "Maybe I was being too much of an athlete, not knowing where the defense is."
Video: LAD@NYM: Conforto knocks RBI single for first MLB hit
Con-4-for-4-to: Hitless in his big league debut, Conforto made up for it in Saturday's encore. The rookie singled off Lee to plate a run in the first inning before doubling twice and singling once in the middle innings. Conforto also walked in the seventh to reach base for the fifth time, and said he plans to give the ball from his first hit to his "biggest fan," his grandfather. More >
Video: LAD@NYM: Conforto tallies four hits vs. Dodgers
Rollins rolling: As if he were still with the Phillies, Rollins homered against the Mets for the third consecutive game. His 33 career home runs against the Mets are third most by an active player, behind former Phillies teammates Ryan Howard (42) and Chase Utley (35).
Video: LAD@NYM: Rollins hits a solo shot to right off Harvey
QUOTABLE
"This is more what I was dreaming about." --Conforto, a day after calling his 0-for-3 debut "a dream come true"
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Duda's second home run had an exit velocity of 113 mph, according to Statcast™, making it the Mets' hardest-hit homer of the season. Only 23 home runs have had exit velocities of 113 mph or faster in all of Major League Baseball this season -- Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton has 10 of them.
Video: LAD@NYM: Duda belts his second homer of the game
WHAT'S NEXT
Dodgers: Zack Greinke returns from the paternity list and starts on Sunday with two extra days between outings. He brings with him a 1.30 ERA and a scoreless streak of 43 2/3 innings, the longest for any pitcher since Orel Hershiser's record 59 in 1988. The game is scheduled for 10:10 a.m. PT.
Mets: The Mets will try to keep their offense rolling in a 1:10 p.m. ET series finale against the Dodgers at Citi Field. They shouldn't need much considering who's on the mound: right-hander Jacob deGrom, who is 7-2 with a 1.50 ERA over his last 11 starts.
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