Home runs by Matt Kemp, Luis Cruz help Dodgers edge the Mets, 7-6
Matt Kemp’s second two-run home run in as many games and Luis Cruz’s first homer in the big leagues helped the Dodgers edge the New York Mets, 7-6, Friday night at Citi Field.
But the Dodgers didn’t make it easy on themselves in earning their 50th win of the season, with starter Aaron Harang and the Dodgers bullpen squandering an early 6-2 lead.
Regardless, the win kicked off a 10-game trip on a high note for the Dodgers, who remained 2 1/2 games behind the first-place San Francisco Giants, who also won Friday.
The Dodgers wasted no time attacking Mets starter Johan Santana, who tossed a no-hitter in June but lasted only three innings Friday.
Kemp’s blast came in the first inning, in his first at-bat since his two-run, walk-off home run that lifted the Dodgers past the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-3, on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.
After Bobby Abreu led off the game with a single, Kemp drilled his home run into the left-center field stands, his 14th homer of the season. Andre Ethier then doubled and scored on Jerry Hairston Jr.’s single.
The Dodgers scored again in the second inning thanks to Santana’s wildness, as the left-hander walked Ethier with the bases loaded.
In the third inning, Hairston singled again and Cruz, the Dodgers shortstop who was called up from the minors early this month, slugged his first major league home run to give the Dodgers a 6-2 lead.
Daniel Murphy then had a run-scoring double in the fifth inning -- one of four hits on the night for Murphy -- and Scott Hairston (Jerry’s brother) singled home another run in the sixth inning against Dodgers reliever Josh Lindblom.
The Dodgers added a run in the seventh inning on Juan Rivera’s run-scoring single to make the score 7-4.
But in the Mets’ half of the seventh, pinch-hitter Jordany Valdespin slugged a two-run home run off Shawn Tolleson to pull the Mets to within a run.
Valdespin also reached second base with one out in the ninth inning on an infield single and throwing error by Jerry Hairston, but closer Kenley Jansen retired the next two batters for his 17th save.
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