LOS ANGELES — This city’s unofficial theme song should be sung by members of the Mets today. Carlos Beltran, Ruben Tejada and manager Terry Collins can lead a rendition of “I love L.A.”
The Mets certainly love it, mostly because visiting here means playing the hapless Dodgers.
Collins’ crew last night used seven strong innings from Jon Niese, coupled with a three-run rally in the sixth, and held on for a 5-3 victory at Dodger Stadium.
The Mets (45-42) won their fourth straight without Jose Reyes, who remained sidelined with a tight left hamstring, but more significantly moved three games above .500 for the first time this season. It came on the same day general manager Sandy Alderson called the Mets “relevant” in the playoff picture and indicated he’s not yet rushing to break up the team.
“If you would have told me we were going to win [four straight] without Jose Reyes, I would have said, ‘how?’ pretty much,” Collins said.
Niese (8-7, 3.73 ERA) allowed three earned runs on five hits and one walk over seven innings before Bobby Parnell and Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless inning apiece. Rodriguez earned his 22nd save in 25 chances.
Niese was victimized by first base umpire Greg Gibson’s missed call in the sixth that helped the Dodgers pull within 4-3 but recovered. After the Dodgers had already scored a run in the inning, Matt Kemp was ruled safe at first on what should have been a double play. Juan Uribe’s sacrifice fly for the second out gave the Dodgers their second run in the inning.
Tejada’s two-run double in the sixth gave the Mets a 4-1 cushion after they had taken the lead on Hiroki Kuroda (6-10) earlier in the inning. Tejada’s shot into the right-center gap scored Lucas Duda and Josh Thole, both of whom had singled after Beltran scored on a wild pitch. The Mets’ final run of the game came on Justin Turner’s RBI single in the ninth.
Beltran, who had doubled leading off the sixth, stopped between second and third on Daniel Murphy’s fly to left. Eugenio Velez’s throw sailed over the cutoff man’s head and allowed Beltran to take third.
Beltran said he took advantage of the utilityman Velez’s relative inexperience playing left.
“All I was thinking is I want to put pressure, take five full steps toward third base, and try to make him throw the ball,” Beltran said. “He felt the pressure and threw it over the third baseman’s head and I was able to get to third.”
After retiring Jason Bay for the second out, Kuroda unloaded a wild pitch, allowing Beltran to race home and give the Mets a 2-1 lead.