Mets try again to cool down Dodgers' hot bats
Posted: Tue May 6 11:10 AM
(Sports Network) - Matt Kemp's playing time this year figured to take a hit when the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Andruw Jones this past offseason. Kemp is fixture in the lineup right now, though, and will try to extend his lengthy hitting streak when Los Angeles plays the middle portion of a three-game series with the New York Mets tonight at Dodger Stadium.
Kemp, the National League's reigning player of the week, batted .407 with four doubles and a league-best 11 RBI in six games while stealing six bases to earn the honor. He smacked a two-run homer in Monday's 5-1 victory over the Mets, stretching his current hitting streak to 10 games.
Kemp, who is currently playing in right field ahead of Andre Either, is now a career .367 hitter versus the Mets with five homers and 14 RBI.
Blake DeWitt and Rafael Furcal each hit solo home runs for the Dodgers, who got back in the win column after having an eight-game winning streak snapped on Sunday.
Chad Billingsley (2-4) struggled with his control but recorded outs when needed, as the Los Angeles starter surrendered a lone run on five hits and four walks while fanning four in six-plus innings.
Dodgers first-year major leaguer Hiroki Kuroda will face the Mets for the first time since coming over from Japan tonight, and will also try to halt a five-start winless stretch (0-2). Kuroda has posted back-to-back no decisions, including one on Thursday when he gave up three runs on five hits in seven innings of his team's eventual 5-3 victory over Florida. He also fanned four while keeping his earned run average at 3.82.
The right-hander was in line to get the win before he allowed a two-run homer to the Marlins' Cody Ross in the fifth inning that tied the game at 3-3. Los Angeles plated two runs in the ninth to earn the win.
Nelson Figueroa will make his fifth start of the season for the Mets tonight. Figueroa defeated the Braves on April 27 to improve to 2-1 after holding Atlanta to three runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings of work. A rain out allowed New York to skip Figueroa in the rotation last week, but the right- hander made a relief appearance versus Pittsburgh on Wednesday and gave up a run on five hits in 3 1/3 frames.
Figueroa will face the Dodgers for the first time since 2002 and is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts against Los Angeles.
Carlos Beltran tripled and scored during a 2-for-4 effort at the plate on Monday, but the Mets recorded just five hits in the loss. It was the club's third setback in five games.
Oliver Perez (2-3), who didn't get out of the second inning in his latest start, gave New York six frames but allowed five runs on six hits and two free passes.
These two clubs split 10 meetings last year, with the Dodgers winning four of seven from the Mets at home.