Seven relief pitchers help Dodgers beat Mets, extend MLB-best win streak

Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Seven relief pitchers combined to allow just six hits and one run to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-1 win over the New York Mets and extend the team's win streak to seven games.

Corey Knebel took the mound first for his first start of the season Thursday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. He handed the ball to relief pitcher Evan Phillips in the second inning.

Fellow relievers Victor Gonzalez and Phil Bickford pitched the middle innings for the Dodgers. Brusdar Graterol, Alex Vesia and Blake Treinen then closed out the game with no hits or runs allowed for the final three innings.

The seven Dodgers arms threw a combined eight strikeouts and did not issue a single walk. The Dodgers, who are without four of the starters from their Opening Day rotation, also used only relief pitchers in a 9-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday in Los Angeles.

"I envisioned a couple of wins, but that was probably a little bit too optimistic," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters.

"The defense, the guys in the bullpen, [have] the 'next man up, ready when called upon' type of mentality."

The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead on consecutive RBI groundouts from outfielders A.J. Pollock and Chris Taylor in the bottom of the second Friday at Dodger Stadium. Third baseman J.D. Davis answered with an RBI double in the top of the fourth, but the Mets did not score again.

Dodgers pinch hitter Billy McKinney scored Taylor with an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth. Second baseman Trea Turner drove in the game's final run with an RBI single in the next at-bat.

Turner went 2 for 4 with an RBI in the victory. Taylor went 1 for 2 with an RBI, a walk and a run scored. First baseman Pete Alonso was the only Mets player with more than one hit. He went 2 for 4 in the loss.

Mets starter Taijuan Walker allowed six hits and four runs in six innings to drop to 7-8 this season. Treinen issued three consecutive strikeouts in the ninth inning to earn his fourth save of 2021.

"When the ball isn't leaving the yard, you have to play defense, gotta pitch and get timely hitting. I felt like we did that," Turner told reporters.

"Our pitching has been really, really good. ... [The bullpen] is so consistent. Even when they get in a little trouble, they manage the damage and give the offense wiggle room."

The Dodgers are tied with the New York Yankees for MLB's current longest winning streak. They started the streak Aug. 13 and host the Mets in the second matchup of their four-game series at 10:10 p.m. EDT Friday in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers (76-46) are 2.5 games behind the rival San Francisco Giants (78-43) for first place in the National League West division standings.