Tyrone Taylor HR lifts Mets past Dodgers in 8-3 win
Tyrone Taylor hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the sixth as the Mets beat the Dodgers 8-3 on Sunday at Citi Field, avoiding a sweep. The outfielder, a top trade candidate before the Aug. 3 deadline, is batting .382 with five homers and a 1.403 OPS since returning from the IL.
Key Takeaways
- Tyrone Taylor's sixth-inning three-run blast gave New York the lead in an 8-3 win over Los Angeles.
- Taylor is an impending free agent and a prime Mets trade chip ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline.
- Since leaving the injured list last month, he is hitting .382 with five home runs and a 1.403 OPS.
- Freddy Peralta allowed three runs (two earned) in four innings and said Sunday was likely his last Mets start.
- The Mets snapped a three-game skid and avoided a Dodgers sweep at Citi Field.
How did Tyrone Taylor flip the Mets-Dodgers finale?
Los Angeles carried a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth before the bullpen unraveled. After Jack Dreyer walked two batters, Evan Phillips surrendered a go-ahead three-run homer to Tyrone Taylor, flipping the score to 4-3.
One inning later, Will Klein allowed four runs, including Marcus Semien's three-run shot, as New York pulled away for the 8-3 victory. The Mets had dropped the first two games of the series and used the big bats to avoid a Los Angeles sweep, per coverage from ESPN.
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Why does Tyrone Taylor matter before the trade deadline?
Like Peralta, Taylor is an impending free agent and another prime trade candidate for a Mets club whose postseason hopes have faded. Unlike Peralta, Taylor said he has not thought much about the likelihood of being moved by Aug. 3.
Interim manager Andy Green said the elite defender is expected to start a couple of games against the Atlanta Braves this week, giving New York a chance to showcase him for clubs seeking an outfielder. Contenders hunting offense and strong outfield defense could view his recent tear as a late-deadline boost.
Since coming off the injured list last month, Taylor has been blistering: .382 with five home runs and a 1.403 OPS in 39 plate appearances. He also delivered a clutch two-run pinch-hit double in Saturday's close loss, underscoring his spark-plug role in the series.
Was Sunday Freddy Peralta's last start for New York?
Peralta, a free agent this offseason, acknowledged it probably was his final outing in a Mets uniform. He allowed three runs (two earned) on 93 pitches over four innings, an improvement from his prior start but still short of the frontline form New York sought when it acquired him from Milwaukee in late January.
He owns a 4.99 ERA across 22 starts and has not consistently worked deep into games. Still, his two-time All-Star track record and 2.70 ERA season with the Brewers make him attractive to contenders before the deadline.
The Mets improved to avoid the sweep but remain well below .500 at 44-62. Taylor's surge and Peralta's likely farewell now sit at the center of New York's sell-side decisions before Aug. 3.