NEW YORK — Gavin Stone strolled through the New York Mets’ lineup like a tourist visiting Central Park – without the fear of getting mugged.
The rookie right-hander allowed just three hits over seven scoreless innings as the Dodgers completed a sweep of their doubleheader with the New York Mets, winning the nightcap, 3-0, on Tuesday.
The Dodgers rallied for five runs in the final three innings to win the opener in 10 innings, 5-2.
The wind seemed to be at their back when they started the second game by scoring in each of the first two innings.
Filling in at DH with Shohei Ohtani resting his bruised hamstring, Will Smith lined a solo home run into the left field seats in the first inning. In the second, Andy Pages led off with a bloop single and scored on Miguel Rojas’ double to the wall in center field.
The offense went back into hibernation after that, stirring only on a solo home run by Miguel Vargas in the sixth inning.
Stone didn’t need much. He announced his presence with authority, striking out the side in the first inning. The Mets had harmless two-out singles in the second and third innings then Stone retired 10 in a row before allowing another single in the seventh. None of the runners advanced past first base.
Stone was so efficient he breezed through his final four innings on just 38 pitches. He threw 87 in all, 63 strikes. He struck out seven in all and got swings-and-misses with four different pitches – his sinker (four), slider, changeup and cut fastball (two each).
Alex Vesia got the final six outs to finish off the combined three-hit shutout.