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New York Mets mash Los Angeles Dodgers to take series lead

By Jerry Beach, The Sports Xchange
New York Mets batter Yoenis Cespedes (52) celebrates with runner David Wright (5) at home plate after hitting a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning of game 3 of the NLDS at Citi Field in New York City on October 12, 2015. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI
1 of 7 | New York Mets batter Yoenis Cespedes (52) celebrates with runner David Wright (5) at home plate after hitting a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning of game 3 of the NLDS at Citi Field in New York City on October 12, 2015. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo

NEW YORK -- A Citi Field crowd of 44,276 didn't get to view the revenge it wanted the New York Mets to exact on Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley on Monday night.

The fans got something even better: The Mets' idea of payback.

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Right fielder Curtis Granderson tied a franchise postseason record with five RBIs, and the Mets came back from an early deficit to rout the Dodgers 13-7 Monday in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

The Mets, who set a franchise record for runs scored in a postseason game, lead the best-of-five series two games to one and will go for the clincher Tuesday night. Rookie left-hander Steven Matz will make his postseason debut against Dodgers ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young Award winner who will be starting on three days' rest.

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"We came into this knowing we were going to see him twice," Mets manager Terry Collins said of Kershaw. "That's a tall order for anybody, any team. But it is what it is, so if we can get our guys home so they can get some decent sleep, they'll come ready for tomorrow."

Mets fans certainly were ready for Monday night and the team's first postseason game at Citi Field. The crowd spent more than four hours taunting Utley, whose hard slide into Ruben Tejada in Game 2 on Saturday left the Mets shortstop with a broken right fibula.

Utley's slide jumpstarted the winning rally by the Dodgers on Saturday but also earned him a two-game suspension from Major League Baseball. Utley appealed the suspension and is eligible to play until he receives a hearing.

The boos from the crowd Monday drowned out Utley's name when it was read during pregame introductions. Mets public-address announcer Alex Anthony paused for several seconds as the camera remain fixed on Utley, whose typically stoic expression never wavered.

"I think the boos at the introductions were kind of a big statement leading into the game," said Mets right-hander Matt Harvey, who tossed five laborious innings to earn the win. "We knew the biggest thing going in was coming on top and scoring as many runs as we did. That kind of did all the talking.

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"So for us, it was stay focused, go out and let our play do all the talking. And all that stuff will be resolved later."

Tejada, meanwhile, was showered with a deafening ovation when he was the last Mets non-starter introduced. He walked out of the dugout with the aid of a cane, took his spot along the first base line, doffed his cap and tapped his heart.

"The roar from it I think even exceeded my expectations in terms of the energy and the entire fan base just coming together to show their support for him and everything he's been through," Granderson said.

The Dodgers initially quieted the crowd by stringing together four straight singles to open the second inning. The last of the hits was a two-run single to right by catcher Yasmani Grandal, who was mired in a 4-for-78 slump.

Granderson tried throwing out Carl Crawford on the play, but his throw sailed wide of third baseman David Wright, and Crawford trotted home with a third run.

The Mets wasted no time answering with four straight singles of their own to begin the bottom of the inning. The third hit was an RBI single by catcher Travis d'Arnaud, who entered Monday with just seven hits in his last 56 at-bats.

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With two outs and the bases loaded, Granderson atoned for his error by hitting a first-pitch, three-run double to center to give the Mets the lead for good.

The Dodgers put five runners on base over the next three innings but failed to dent Harvey, who ended up allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven.

"We got him on the ropes a couple of different times, we just didn't get the hit," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.

The Mets, meanwhile, got plenty of hits against Dodgers left-hander Brett Anderson and five relievers. With two outs in the third, d'Arnaud (3-for-5, three RBIs) hit a first-pitch, two-run homer off Casey Stengel's retired number in left field.

New York finished 3-for-8 with five RBIs when swinging at the first pitch.

"I just think we were ready for our pitch," d'Arnaud said. "We were fortunate enough to get our pitch and make sure we put good swings on it."

Anderson took the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out three over three innings.

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In the fourth, Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy laced a two-out RBI single before left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (3-for-5, three RBIs) launched a mammoth three-run shot into the second deck in left to put the Mets up 10-3. Music from "The Natural" played as he rounded the bases.

Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo homer in the seventh inning, but the Mets answered in the bottom half, when pinch hitter Michael Cuddyer lofted a sacrifice fly before Granderson's two-run double. Granderson became the fourth player in franchise history to knock in five runs in a playoff game.

Los Angeles second baseman Howie Kendrick hit a three-run homer in the ninth, during which Utley never appeared in the on-deck circle to pinch-hit for pitcher Luis Avilan even though the Mets had right-hander Jeurys Familia on the mound.

"I'm still down six, so I really don't want (Utley) to hit with one guy on," Mattingly said. "I want to try to get three or four guys on for him."

NOTES: Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw will start Game 4 of the NL Division Series on three days' rest for the third consecutive year. ... The Mets officially added SS Matt Reynolds to their roster in place of SS Ruben Tejada. Reynolds may become the second player in the modern era to make his major league debut in the playoffs. Oakland A's INF Mark Kiger did it in 2006. Kiger never appeared in a regular-season game in his career. ... Dodgers 2B Chase Utley has been hit by a pitch 179 times, tops among active players. No team has plunked him more than the Mets (28 times).

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