Rubby De La Rosa lasted seven innings for the second straight start for the Dodgers, but a three-run sixth inning put the Mets up for good, propelling New York to a 5-2 win over the Dodgers in the opener of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium. De La Rosa was cruising through five innings, allowing no hits and throwing just 51 pitches. However, the Mets turned it on in the top of the sixth inning.
After a single by Ruben Tejada -- subbing for the injured Jose Reyes -- ended the no-hitter, the Mets got three RBI doubles, all down the right field line, to take a 3-2 lead. The Mets tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning off relievers Scott Elbert and Matt Guerrier to finish the scoring. Still De La Rosa pitched a scoreless seventh inning, his second straight start lasting that long.
"I think he handled himself fine," manager Don Mattingly said of De La Rosa, after the game. "Rubby really is pretty solid, as far as handling himself. The way he bounced back the next inning really shows what kind of kid he is."
James Loney, hitting just .179/.194/.222 against left-handed pitching entering the game tonight, drove in both Dodgers runs with a pair of RBI singles off southpaw Chris Capuano. Capuano pitched six innings for his eighth win of the season. Tonight was the Dodgers' second sellout of the season, after opening day, and for once the announced (paid) crowd was close to matching the actual crowd at Dodger Stadium.
For more news and information about the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.