Justin Turner homered and drove in three runs against his former club, emergency starter Ian Thomas hurled five effective innings, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Mets 7-2 on Friday night.
The Dodgers spoiled the major league debut of outfielder Michael Conforto, the Mets' first-round draft pick last year who was promoted from Double-A Binghamton earlier in the day. Conforto drove in the Mets' first run with an RBI groundout in the fifth inning, and finished 0-for-3.
Thomas (1-1) allowed one run and three hits over five innings in his first major league start. The rookie left-hander, recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma on Wednesday, pitched in place of All-Star Zack Greinke— who left the team Thursday morning for the birth of his first child.
The Dodgers scored early and often off Mets starter Jonathan Niese (5-9), who allowed six runs and eight hits — including home runs by Turner and Yasiel Puig — in three innings.
Jimmy Rollins also homered off Hansel Robles in the eighth for the Dodgers, giving the veteran shortstop 32 career home runs against the Mets.
Niese had quietly strung together eight consecutive quality starts before Friday's outing. The left-hander's availability was in question just a couple of hours before game time, with his wife expected to go into labor at any time.
Howie Kendrick started things off with a one-out single in the first inning, followed by a hard-hit RBI double by Turner to right-center.
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Niese didn't fare any better in the second, loading the bases with no outs after consecutive singles by Kike Hernandez and Jimmy Rollin, and a hit batter. Thomas then grounded into a run-scoring double play, followed by an RBI double to left by Joc Pederson to give Los Angeles a 3-0 lead.
Turner struck again in the third, crushing a 3-2 fastball into the seats in left-center field— a few rows behind the Party City Deck. Scott Van Slyke singled, followed by Puig's homer on a 1-0 count, landing in almost the same spot as Turner's and increasing the Dodgers' lead to 6-0.
Joel Peralta replaced Thomas to start the sixth, getting two quick outs before the Mets cut the deficit to 6-2 on an RBI single by Daniel Murphy, who drove in Ruben Tejada. Wilmer Flores followed with another single, chasing Peralta in place of Juan Nicasio— who struck out Lucas Duda to end the threat.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: LF Alex Guerrero, originally slated to bat fifth Friday night, was a late scratch due to back stiffness. ... 1B Adrian Gonzalez, who leads the team with 21 home runs, was given the night off. "He's played both of the day games after the night games and I wanted to get him a day," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. ... LHP Brett Anderson (irritated Achilles' tendon) threw a bullpen and took part in agility drills before Friday's game. He is a possibility to start on either Sunday against the Mets or Tuesday in Los Angeles against Oakland.
Mets: LF Michael Cuddyer was placed on the 15-day disabled list before Friday night's game with inflammation in his left knee. The move was made retroactive to Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: Los Angeles had yet to announce a starter for Saturday's matchup, awaiting Greinke's status.
Mets: RHP Matt Harvey (8-7, 3.19) takes the hill for the Mets on Saturday night, coming off a 7-2 loss in Washington on Monday in which he allowed five runs (four earned) over seven innings. Still working his way back from 2013 Tommy John surgery, the 26-year-old flamethrower has been uncharacteristically wild of late— walking 13 over his past three outings.
