The Dodgers’ Max Muncy tosses his bat as he watches the flight of his game-tying solo home run during the ninth inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The New York Mets’ Pete Alonso singles in a run during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
The New York Mets’ Starling Marte, right, scores past Dodgers catcher Will Smith on a single by Pete Alonso during the first inning on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
The New York Mets’ Starling Marte is greeted in the dugout after scoring a run during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani acknowledges the Mets’ dugout as he prepares to bat during the first inning on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani approaches the plate for his first at-bat during the first inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
New York Mets starting pitcher Tylor Megill throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani reacts after a strike during the first inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Dodgers star Mookie Betts runs home to score past New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez during the first inning on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
New York Mets starting pitcher Tylor Megill throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Max Muncy watches the flight of his two-run home run during the first inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
The Dodgers’ Max Muncy watches the flight of his two-run home run during the first inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
The Dodgers’ Max Muncy begins to run the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
New York Mets starting pitcher Tylor Megill looks on after giving up a two-run home run to the Dodgers’ Max Muncy during the first inning on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
The Dodgers’ Max Muncy gestures as he crosses the plate after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Muncy’s second homer of the night tied the score in the bottom of the ninth, and the Dodgers went on to win, 6-5, in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
The Dodgers’ Max Muncy, left, is greeted by teammate Teoscar Hernandez after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
New York Mets third baseman Ronny Mauricio stays ready on defense during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
New York Mets rookie Ronny Mauricio grounds into a double play during the second inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
The Dodgers’ Hyeseong Kim reacts after fouling a ball off his foot during the second inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
The Dodgers’ Hyeseong Kim falls to the ground while at bat during the second inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
New York Mets starting pitcher Tylor Megill throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani follows through on a swing during the second inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
New York Mets star Juan Soto hits a two-run home run during the third inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
New York Mets star Juan Soto, left, celebrates his two-run home run with teammates Pete Alonso, right, and Francisco Lindor during the third inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
New York Mets starting pitcher Tylor Megill throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Fans react as New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto reaches over the wall to catch a foul ball hit by the Dodgers’ Will Smith for an out during the fourth inning on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The New York Mets’ Brandon Nimmo beats Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw to first base for an RBI infield single during the fifth inning on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw reacts after giving up a run during the fifth inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is caught in a rundown (and eventually tagged out) during the eighth inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is caught in a rundown (and eventually tagged out) during the eighth inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
New York Mets relief pitcher Reed Garrett reacts after striking out the Dodgers’ Will Smith to end the eighth inning on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
The Dodgers’ Max Muncy hits a solo home run to tie the score, 5-5, during the ninth inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
The Dodgers’ Max Muncy is showered with sunflower seeds as he returns to the dugout after hitting his second home run of the game to tie the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
New York Mets star Juan Soto walks back to the dugout after striking out during the 10th inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman hits a walk-off RBI double during the 10th inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won, 6-5. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman hits a walk-off double in the bottom of the 10th inning to give his team a 6-5 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, right, is doused with water by teammate Andy Pages after hitting a walk-off double in the 10th inning to give them a 6-5 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers tied the score in the bottom of the ninth on Max Muncy’s second homer run of the game. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, right, is doused with water by teammate Andy Pages after hitting a walk-off double in the 10th inning to give them a 6-5 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers tied the score in the bottom of the ninth on Max Muncy’s second homer run of the game. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Grounds crew workers roll up a tarp covering the infield after it rained before a game between the Dodgers and the New York Mets on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Grounds crew workers roll up a tarp covering the infield after it rained before a game between the Dodgers and the New York Mets on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
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The Dodgers’ Max Muncy tosses his bat as he watches the flight of his game-tying solo home run during the ninth inning of their game against the New York Mets on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
LOS ANGELES — It was a night for restitution at Dodger Stadium, a chance to make up for past sins.
Max Muncy hit two home runs – including one in the ninth inning to tie the score – to make up for his ninth error of the season (tied for the second-most in the majors among all positions) that undermined Clayton Kershaw and helped the New York Mets erase the Dodgers’ early lead.
And Tanner Scott pitched the 10th inning for the second night in a row. He took the loss on Monday night but retired the side in order this time. That allowed the Dodgers to score the game-winning run on Freddie Freeman’s RBI double in the bottom of the 10th and walk off with a 6-5 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday night.
“That’s part of being on a team. We just try to pick each other up,” Kershaw said after the win.
Over the years, Kershaw has done plenty of that lifting. These days, though, things are not coming easily for him. He had to labor for each of the 14 outs he recorded.
For most of his career, hitters were eager to swing early against Kershaw for fear of the wipe-out stuff they would have to deal with if he got two strikes on them.
Things no longer come as easily for Kershaw. He got two strikes on eight of the first 12 batters he faced but struck out just one. Instead, he gave up costly hits on two-strike pitches and had to throw 58 pitches in the first three innings.
With one out in the first inning, he had Starling Marte down 0-and-2. Marte singled.
After a wild pitch moved Marte into scoring position with two outs, Pete Alonso drove him in with an RBI single on a 1-and-2 slider from Kershaw.
Two innings later, Kershaw threw his fastest pitch of the season so far – a 91.2 mph fastball – on a full count to Juan Soto. Soto crushed it, launching it into the right field seats for a two-run home run.
“Just didn’t make enough good pitches,” Kershaw said. “I got ahead of some guys, gave up two-strike hits, walked guys, gave up some hard-hit balls. Overall, not a great day.
“It’s kind of in and out for me. I think I’ll go on a stretch of making, like, 10 or 11 good pitches in a row and then just make enough bad ones to get some damage done against me. I just need to put it together for a whole game, figure out how to do that, which I think I can do and will do. Just better be soon.”
That all but washed away the 4-1 lead the Dodgers had given Kershaw after the first inning.
Back in the lineup for the first time since last Wednesday, Mookie Betts singled with one out and scored from first base when Freeman doubled into the right-field corner – showing no ill effects from the fractured toe that had sidelined Betts for four games.
Freeman went to third when Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil mishandled the relay throw and then scored on a ground out. Muncy capped the four-run first inning with a two-run home run, his fourth homer in the past four games.
“I kind of felt close for a long time,” said Muncy, who went 105 plate appearances into the season without a home run. “I told you guys – I was hitting the ball hard, I just wasn’t getting good results out of it. It’s one of those things where if I wasn’t hitting the ball hard that’d be a red flag. Just had a little bit of bad luck early. Now I’m getting things to go the right way which is nice. I’m just trying to keep the mechanics the same, keep building on it moving forward.”
With one out in the fifth inning, Kershaw walked Francisco Lindor on four pitches. He got Marte to hit a ground ball right at Muncy but the ball went right through the third baseman and into left field. Kershaw got Soto to pop out for the second out of the inning, but Alonso lined a slider to the wall in left-center for a game-tying double.
“Making mistakes really sucks. But when you do it with a guy like Kershaw on the mound, it cuts deep a little bit more,” Muncy said.
The go-ahead run was a time-release headache for Kershaw. Nimmo bounced a ground ball to Freeman and Kershaw raced Nimmo to first base, grabbing the feed from Freeman on the way. First-base umpire Jansen Visconti called Nimmo out, ending the inning. But the Mets challenged the call and replay review showed Nimmo reaching the bag just before Kershaw. The call was overturned, giving Nimmo a go-ahead RBI infield single and ending Kershaw’s night after 4⅔ innings.
“You just don’t see the misses with the curveball like you saw tonight,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think there was one good one to a left-handed hitter in the middle of a count. But outside of that there’s a lot of non-competitive curveballs, which is very uncharacteristic of Clayton. … The teethiness of the slider, just isn’t there right now. It’s still been three-plus starts. So to get the feel of it, it’s gonna come.
“I know he’s frustrated because he’s getting count leverage with guys and can’t put them away by way of strikeout. He’s competing his tail off, but it just hasn’t been as easy as it has been for him prior to this little stretch. He’s going to keep working and keep competing and we’re obviously going to keep running him out there.”
Mets starter Tylor Megill retired 16 of 17 Dodgers batters following Muncy’s home run in the first inning. A two-out double by Andy Pages in the fourth was their only hit until the eighth inning, when Betts followed a walk of Shohei Ohtani with his second single of the night.
Thanks to the work of the bullpen, it stayed a one-run game into the ninth when Muncy led off with his second home run of the night, tying the score.
Scott came on for the 10th inning – again. He retired the side in order, striking out two.
“Me, (assistant pitching coach) Connor (McGuinness), Bardo (Josh Bard, bullpen coach) and (pitching coach) Mark (Prior) did a deep dive. And I definitely had to clean some things up,” Scott said.
“I was flying open, lower half leading to upper half. Everything was popping out a little early, and not staying through a pitch. It was leading to locations being terrible.”
Shohei Ohtani led off the 10th and the Mets opted to intentionally walk him. Betts flew out but Freeman drove a ball to the warning track in left field. Nimmo got turned around and the ball fell in for the decisive double.
“I was just trying to get something up, and hopefully hit a ball in the air,” Freeman said. “The main thing was just not to ground into a double play, just so we can get Teo a chance if I flew out or something like that.”
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