NEW YORK — The Dodgers had this one in hand. Then the bullpen let it slip away, twice.
Los Angeles built an early three-run lead behind a strong start from Emmet Sheehan, but the Mets erupted for seven runs across the sixth and seventh innings to salvage the series finale, beating the Dodgers 8-3 Sunday at Citi Field.
The game got underway with a Shohei Ohtani leadoff double but the Dodgers couldn't capitalize and the Mets made sure the Dodgers paid for it. Francisco Lindor lined a single through the right side in the bottom of the first to score A.J. Ewing and put New York up 1-0. Los Angeles answered by the third, tying it on a Freddie Freeman double that brought home Eliezer Alfonzo, then grabbing the lead an out later when Max Muncy's groundout scored Andy Pages. The Dodgers kept the pressure on into the fourth, with Alfonzo cashing in Tommy Edman on another groundout to make it 3-1. Two innings, three runs, no wasted opportunities.
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Jul 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) reacts after hitting a RBI double against the New York Mets during the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Sheehan did his part to hold it there. After a shaky opening frame, the right-hander settled in and worked around traffic the rest of the way, going five innings and allowing just one run on three hits with five strikeouts. It was the kind of bounce-back start the Dodgers needed after New York grabbed the early lead, and for a while it looked like it might be enough.
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Jul 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) keeps an eye on New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge (3) at first base during the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
The bullpen couldn't finish the job. Jack Dreyer relieved Sheehan in the sixth and put two runners on before getting pulled, and Evan Phillips came on and served up a three-run homer to Tyrone Taylor that flipped the score to 4-3 Mets. The inning was the first real turning point of the game, and the Dodgers never fully recovered.
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Jul 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Tyrone Taylor (28) celebrates with center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) and right fielder Carson Benge (3) after hitting a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
It only got worse in the seventh. Will Klein came on in relief to open the inning and walked A.J. Ewing, who moved into scoring position on a Lindor groundout and to third on a Bichette single before a passed ball let him trot home. Klein couldn't settle in from there. Jorge Polanco worked a walk, and Marcus Semien put the final nail in the coffin with a three-run homer, his 11th of the season, scoring Bichette and Polanco to put the game away at 8-3.
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Jul 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) hits a three run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Los Angeles made one last push in the eighth, loading the bases against Luke Weaver on a single, a hit by pitch and a walk, but Teoscar Hernández grounded out to end the threat, and the Dodgers never got another runner past second base the rest of the way.
The Dodgers managed to pick up nine hits but stranded too many runners to keep pace once the Mets bullpen and Semien's swing took over. Cionel Pérez picked up the win in relief of Freddy Peralta, improving to 4-3, while Phillips took the loss and fell to 0-2.
The sweep may have gotten away, but the series didn't. Los Angeles leaves New York with a 2-1 series win, capping a strong road trip that also saw the Dodgers take series wins over the Yankees and Phillies and finishing 6-3 away from Chavez Ravine.
Los Angeles gets Monday off before opening a three-game series at home against the Mariners on Tuesday, looking to carry the momentum of the road trip into a stretch back at home.