Max Muncy homers twice, Freddie Freeman walks off Mets

For the second night in a row and the third time in five meetings this season, the Dodgers and Mets needed extra innings to figure things out. Freddie Freeman’s second double of the game absolutely flummoxed Brandon Nimmo in left field, giving the Dodgers a 6-5 win in 10 innings.

Max Muncy continued his power drive with a two-run home run to cap a four-run first inning. Only problem was the Dodgers didn’t score again until Muncy led off the ninth inning with a solo shot off Huascar Brazobán to get the game to extra innings.

One night after a fourth meltdown in his last eight appearances, Tanner Scott was back out there in the 10th inning on Tuesday. He struck out Juan Soto and Pete Alonso, then induced a groundout to strand the free runner and set up the heroics in the bottom of the frame.

How we got here

Clayton Kershaw isn’t working with the same margin for error that he once did, and the Mets jumped on their chances against the left-hander.

Kershaw allowed two singles in the first inning, but a wild pitch three pitches before the second hit allowed the Mets to plate a run. A middle-middle fastball to Soto in the third inning was deposited deep into the pavilion for a two-run home run.

Clinging to a one-run lead in the fifth, a four-pitch walk and an error by Muncy helped extend the inning. A two-out double by Alonso brought home the tying run, and Nimmo beat Kershaw to first base for an infield single to give the Mets the lead.

Four hits in five at-bats with runners in scoring position charged five runs to Kershaw’s ledger, three of them earned, in 4⅔ innings. More walks (three) than strikeouts (two) didn’t help.

Decision time

Ben Casparius was warming in the fifth inning with Kershaw at 86 pitches and the right-handed Alonso coming up. Dave Roberts stuck with Kershaw, who needed one more out to qualify for a potential win. Dodgers relievers having more tread on their tires than any other team certainly factored into the decision, especially with no off day scheduled until June 11.

Casparius did eventually enter the game, but after two more runs scored, but then continued his stellar campaign by retiring all eight batters he faced, with a pair of strikeouts. The right-hander with the 2.54 ERA has started only once this season but is third on the team in innings pitched (39) and strikeouts (44).

First things first

An early deficit has been a pattern of late for the Dodgers, allowing first-inning runs in eight of their last 11 home games, including in four of five games on this homestand. On the season, the Dodgers have allowed runs in the top of the first inning in exactly half of their 32 home games.

But they’ve also outscored opponents in the first inning at Dodger Stadium 38-25 this season, including four runs in the bottom of the first against Tylor Megill on Tuesday. The Dodgers didn’t get anything else off Megill for the remainder of his six frames, other than a single by Andy Pages.

Notes

• Freeman also doubled in the first inning, and now has 527 career doubles, passing Dave Parker for 45th all-time. On this homestand, Freeman has passed Garret Anderson, Ken Griffey Jr., Ted Williams, Willie Mays, and now Parker in doubles.
• Mookie Betts returned to the lineup after missing four games with a fractured left toe. He had two hits, and scored from first base in that first-inning double by Freeman.
• The Dodgers are 9-7 when they allow runs in the top of the first inning at home this season, and 13-3 when they don’t.
• José Ureña, signed earlier on Tuesday, got the first two outs in the ninth inning, allowing a double and no runs. He’s the 29th pitcher used by the Dodgers this season, most in MLB.

Tuesday particulars

Home runs: Max Muncy 2 (9); Juan Soto (11)

WP — Tanner Scott (1-2): 1 IP, 2 strikeouts

LP — José Buttó (2-1): ⅓ IP, 1 hit, 1 unearned run, 1 intentional walk

Up next

The Dodgers’ stretch of 13 game days in a row reaches day six on Wednesday night (7:10 p.m.; SportsNet LA, MLB Network), which means another turn through the rotation, and starting pitchers on four days rest for the final two games of the series. Tony Gonsolin is on the mound Wednesday night, facing Griffin Canning.