Recap: NY Mets vs. Los Angeles

By Sports Network

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Manny Ramirez went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in before being ejected in the fifth inning, as the Los Angeles Dodgers blanked the New York Mets, 8-0, in the opener of a three-game set at Citi Field.

Clayton Kershaw (6-5), pitched six scoreless frames, giving up three hits and fanned seven to collect the win for the Dodgers, who were playing in their first-ever game at Citi Field. Kershaw is now 3-0 over his last five starts -- all Los Angeles wins. He has also tossed four scoreless outings over that time.

Orlando Hudson went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored for the Dodgers, who have won two in a row and four of five overall. Matt Kemp went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Blake DeWitt smacked his first homer of the season, while Casey Blake knocked in the other run for the victors.

Mike Pelfrey (6-4) lasted a season-low three-plus innings, allowing five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits with four strikeouts and three walks to take the loss for the Mets, who have dropped four consecutive games and nine of 11.

New York, which started a six-game homestand on Tuesday, had just four hits.

The Dodgers got to Pelfrey in the second inning, scoring three runs off the right-hander to take the early lead. Russell Martin singled, Kemp singled, and Rafael Furcal walked to load the bases with two outs. Pelfrey then forced in a run when he issued a free pass to Hudson. Ramirez drove in Kemp and Furcal with a broken-bat bloop single to center.

New York failed to score any runs after putting together a scoring threat in the third. Luis Castillo stroked a one-out single, but was thrown out at third base on Alex Cora's single to center. David Wright then flied out to end the frame.

Los Angeles tacked on two runs in the fourth to build a five-run margin. Furcal reached safely on second baseman Castillo's throwing error and scored when Hudson doubled to left. Ramirez followed with an RBI single to right. Elmer Dessens replaced Pelfrey on the hill and prevented any more runs from scoring.

Ramirez, who was booed all night, was ejected from the game by home plate umpire John Hirschbeck in the fifth inning after being called out on strikes with the bases loaded. Juan Pierre took over for Ramirez in left field.

DeWitt's pinch-hit homer to right in the seventh made it a 6-0 game.

Los Angeles added a two-spot on the board in the eighth. Pierre stroked a one- out triple off Brian Stokes and scored on Blake's sac fly. Kemp forced in a run later in the frame when he walked with the bases loaded.

James McDonald, Claudio Vargas, and Guillermo Mota tossed a scoreless seventh, eighth, and ninth, respectively, to secure the victory.