LOS ANGELES (AP) - Corey Seager suddenly joined the Los Angeles Dodgers’ home run parade Tuesday night, and right-hander Brandon McCarthy thinks he knows what prompted him.
The Dodgers’ other young star, rookie Cody Bellinger, has been making history en route to the National League home run lead.
“Whatever Bellinger’s doing, I don’t understand,” McCarthy said. “I think Seager got mad and decided to hit some balls out.”
Seager hit a trio of homers in a game for the second time in his career, leading a five-homer attack for the Dodgers in a 12-0 win over the New York Mets for their fifth consecutive victory.
The Dodgers have hit nine home runs the past two nights against the Mets. Bellinger, who hit two on Monday, hit his 22nd of the season Tuesday - all in just 52 games. He has 10 homers over his past 10 games.
“We’re having a great time,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “As much as we’re excited for Cody, we’re playing very good baseball and ready to go tomorrow.”
Seager finished with six RBIs and has 12 home runs. Over his last 10 games, he is hitting .415 with four home runs, 13 RBIs and five doubles.
“Hitting is contagious,” Seager said. “Everyone’s starting to roll. When one guy starts going - a guy like Bellinger comes in - everyone’s excited, everyone wants to get on base, everyone wants to be the guy.”
McCarthy (6-3) pitched four-hit ball through six innings for Los Angeles. He walked one, struck out four and lowered his ERA to 2.87. Brock Stewart got his first career save with three hitless innings in his first outing of the season.
“He’s just been on the attack,” Roberts said of McCarthy. “Outside of a few pitches that he yanked on the glove side, he was really good. His whole mix was on tonight, and he was filling up the strike zone.”
Yasmani Grandal added a solo home run for the Dodgers, his seventh homer of the season.
Rookie Robert Gsellman (5-5) gave up four homers and eight runs over 4 1/3 innings. For the second consecutive night, the Mets fell behind 4-0 in the first inning.
“It’s tough for me to sit here night after night, look up, and we’re just not making pitches,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “If you’re going to battle, you’ve got to make pitches.”
MORE SEAGER
Seager also hit three home runs on June 3, 2016, against Atlanta. Mookie Betts, Juan Gonzalez and Boog Powell are the only other players in major league history with a pair of three-homer games before their 24th birthday.
Older brother Kyle Seager hit a game-ending double in the 10th inning for the Seattle Mariners in a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers later Tuesday night.
TOUGH HOMECOMING
Gsellman is a Los Angeles area native who was making his first career start in front of his family and friends. Said Collins: “I understand Robert being a little geeked out tonight, with the fact that it’s his first game back in his hometown. First time in the big leagues to pitch in front of his family. But it’s about making pitches, it’s about execution. That’s what the game’s all for.”
SIX ALL-STARS
Roberts believes he has six players deserving of All-Star recognition - Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, Justin Turner, Seager, Bellinger and Grandal. Said Roberts: “I’m biased, but it’s a no-brainer to me.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: INF Wilmer Flores was out of the lineup, but not for medical reasons. Said Collins: “You can kind of see he’s dragging a little bit. So we’re going to let him get off his feet for a while.” Flores has been starting regularly this month, but after hitting .412 in June’s first nine games, he’s hit only .071 in its last eight games. … Asdrubal Cabrera (thumb) had two singles and an RBI while playing seven innings at shortstop for Class A St. Lucie.
Dodgers: Have used the disabled list 26 times this season, but for the first time year did not offer a medical update Tuesday. They still have six on the DL, but none close to returning.
UP NEXT
Mets: Rookie RHP Tyler Pill (0-2) is scheduled to make his third career start. A Los Angeles area native, he allowed five runs (three earned) and eight hits in five innings against Pittsburgh in his previous start.
Dodgers: Struggling LHP Rich Hill (3-3) will attempt to get his season back on track Wednesday. A frustrated Hill gave up seven runs, eight hits and two walks in four innings during his last start against the Indians. He has failed to pitch more than five innings in any of his previous eight starts.
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