for Class A Palm

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers recent tendency to score late and win often will probably have to continue Monday http://www.brewersfanproshop.com/authentic-hernan-perez-jersey , whether they want to operate that way or not.The reason is they are facing New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom, who is putting together an historic season despite being on one of the worst teams in the majors. The Dodgers took nine days to erase a 4 1/2-game deficit in the National League West by using their late-inning rally strategy to perfection.Article continues below ...Matt Kemp moved the Dodgers into sole possession of first place in the NL West with a game-ending two-run double off Brad Boxberger to give Los Angeles a 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday. Los Angeles moved into a tie atop the division Saturday when Kemp hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning. The Dodgers won Friday on late home runs from Enrique Hernandez and Justin Turner.“It’s the coaches, the players and just the hyper-focus on each day,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Sunday’s victory. It’s hard to not scoreboard watch and feel that 4 1/2 (games) is not a big number to (overcome). Our goal each day was to just play good baseball.”In order to stay in front in the NL West on their own terms, though, the Dodgers will have to get through deGrom. The right-hander is on a march to possibly win the National League Cy Young Award, even if his 8-8 record seems to suggest otherwise. He will enter with a 1.68 ERA, the third best since 1968.A pair of Mets records could belong to deGrom exclusively by the time Monday’s game ends. He currently has 24 consecutive starts of three earned runs or less, tied with Dwight Gooden (1985) for the longest run in franchise history. His 19 consecutive quality starts are also tied for the most in team history.“He continues to do the job Domingo Santana Jersey ,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said, according to mlb.com. “He’s just an all-around player, and the best pitcher in baseball at this point.”The Dodgers can hang their optimism on the fact that the Mets are somehow just 11-16 in games deGrom has started. They can also feel good about their eight victories over their past nine games, as they aim for their sixth consecutive NL West title.At 61-75, the Mets are out of contention in the NL East, but deGrom still has plenty to pitch for. His main competition for a Cy Young Award appears to come from the Nationals’ Max Scherzer, the Rockies’ Kyle Freeland and the Phillies’ Aaron Nola.The competition at present, though, is a Dodgers offense that has surged thanks to hot bats from Manny Machado (nine home runs in 41 games with the Dodgers) and Justin Turner (.402 batting average Eric Sogard Jersey , 1.213 OPS in August).The Dodgers will call on Alex Wood to start opposite deGrom. The left-hander has worked his way through nagging leg injuries this season but has still managed to post an 8-6 record with a 3.42 ERA.Formerly a member of the NL East when he pitched for the Atlanta Braves, Wood knows the Mets well having made nine starts against them in his six seasons. Wood is 1-3 against New York with a 3.83 ERA.In seven starts against the Dodgers in his career, deGrom still does not have a victory over the West Coast foe. He has a 3.43 ERA against them over 44 2/3 innings. ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nationals manager Dave Martinez was awake most of the night after Washington lost on a walk-off grand slam Sunday.He likely won’t be catching up on that missed sleep Monday.Paul DeJong handed the Nationals their second straight walk-off loss, capping a back-and-forth finish with a game-ending solo homer in the ninth inning of the St. Cardinals’ 7-6 victory Monday night.DeJong took Koda Glover (0-1) deep leading off the ninth on a 3-1 pitch. A night earlier, Ryan Madson allowed a game-ending ninth-inning grand slam to the Chicago Cubs’ David Bote in a 4-3 defeat.“I don’t sleep most nights, I like to watch replays of the game,” Martinez said. “And last night was no different.”Washington’s bullpen has blown saves in three of its past four games. All-Star closer Sean Doolittle has been on the disabled list since early July, and top setup man Kelvin Herrera went to the DL with right rotator cuff impingement last week.“I don’t know what else to do,” Martinez said of the bullpen.The usually stoic DeJong wasn’t quite sure how to celebrate his first career walk-off homer. He started calm Keon Broxton Jersey , keeping his head down as he rounded the bases. After coming around third, though, he whipped his helmet into the grass, threw his arms down and bellowed out a roar.“My first walkoff, it felt so good I had to do something a little different,” DeJong said.The Cardinals recorded their 10th walkoff of the season and DeJong became the sixth different player to end a game in grand fashion.“They’re all special, all emotional,” St. Louis interim manager Mike Shildt said. “These guys have the mentality, ‘Do your job http://www.brewersfanproshop.com/authentic-zach-davies-jersey , keep the line moving.’ They have a lot of trust with each other.”The Cardinals have won six in a row and moved to nine games over .500 for the first time this season.DeJong’s 380-foot drive ended a wild final two innings.Matt Carpenter and Jedd Gyorko homered in the eighth inning to put St. Louis up 6-4. Gyorko started the rally with a leadoff drive, and Carpenter followed with a three-run homer off Sammy Solis.The Nationals tied it at 6 in the top of the ninth on RBI singles by Daniel Murphy and Matt Wieters off closer Bud Norris. Dakota Hudson (3-0) relieved Norris and stranded two baserunners by retiring Wilmer Difo and Adam Eaton.Juan Soto and Bryce Harper homered for the Nationals, who have lost five of seven.Gyorko sparked St. Louis’ big eighth inning with his homer off Justin Miller. Kolten Wong and Patrick Wisdom then singled to set up Carpenter’s 33rd homer. Carpenter has homered in seven of his past 10 games. He extended his major-league leading on-base streak to 31 games with a first-inning bunt single. He has 17 homers during that string.Harper won a 10-pitch battle with starter Miles Mikolas by drilling his 29th homer leading off the fourth to lead 2-1.Ryan Zimmerman added a run-scoring double in the second for the Nationals.Jose Martinez had four hits for the Cardinals.Mikolas gave up four runs on four hits over seven innings. He struck out four and walked one.Tommy Milone started for Washington and gave up two runs on 10 hits over 4 1/3 innings.‘PEN BOUNDWhen Carlos Martinez returns to the Cardinals this season, it will be in the bullpen. Martinez has been working back from a shoulder injury, and the team is worried it won’t have time to stretch out its ace for a potential postseason push.Martinez threw 30 pitches in a side session Monday. He will throw one more side session in the next few days, and could return to the active roster soon.“I think he’s probably looking like a (bullpen) weapon for the rest of the year,” Shildt said.TRAINER’S ROOMNationals: Madson is dealing with back issues, but Martinez says Madson plans to pitch through the difficulties. “He’s a big part of our bullpen,” Martinez said. Madson did not pitch Monday. … INF Anthony Rendon returned to the lineup after missing two games due to a left wrist contusion.Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright tossed a scoreless inning for Class A Palm Beach. The three-time All-Star was placed on the disabled list May 14 with right elbow inflammation and is beginning a 30-day rehab assignment. He struck out two and allowed one hit in the nine-pitch outing.UP NEXTLHP Gio Gonzalez (7-8 Brent Suter Jersey , 3.39) will face RHP John Gant (4-4, 3.89) in the second of the four-game series Tuesday. Gonzalez has allowed just two earned runs over 14 innings in two starts this season against St. Louis. Gant made his major league debut against Washington on April 6, 2016 as a member of the Atlanta Braves.