Franchise Fridays Week 3: Dodgers Sweep Mets in Nail-Biting Strat-O-Matic Showdown at Citi Field

Week 3 of Franchise Fridays at Citi Field had all the tension of a playoff game, even if it was really just a Strat-O-Matic showdown between Mets All-Time Greats and Dodgers All-Time Greats. After the Mets dropped the first two games of the series—Tom Seaver outpitched by Sandy Koufax at Shea, Doc Gooden outmatched by Don Drysdale at Ebbets—the spotlight fell on Jacob deGrom. He was tasked with keeping the Mets competitive, while Fernando Valenzuela, with his hypnotic screwball and unflappable composure, took the mound for the Dodgers. From the very first inning, it was clear the Mets were in for a battle.

The Dodgers wasted no time asserting themselves. Jackie Robinson led off the game with a crisp single and immediately stole second, showing off the kind of speed and baseball IQ that made him a legend. Babe Herman followed with a single to right field, sending Robinson home and giving the Dodgers a 1–0 lead before the Mets could even get comfortable at the plate. DeGrom settled in after that rocky start, keeping the Dodgers’ hitters at bay while the Mets struggled to solve Valenzuela. Flyouts and groundouts piled up as the Mets tried, unsuccessfully, to find a rhythm against the Dodgers’ dominant ace.

In the top of the sixth, the Dodgers added some insurance. Roy Campanella lifted a ball that barely cleared the left-field wall for a solo home run, extending the lead to 2–0 and reminding the Mets that even when they think they’ve figured him out, Valenzuela and his supporting cast of Dodgers legends are never far behind. But the Mets were not done. In the bottom of the sixth, Darryl Strawberry led off with a single, Pete Alonso followed with another, and Gary Carter lined a single into center field, scoring Strawberry and giving the Mets their first run of the game. Citi Field buzzed with hope, though it was a flicker; two quick outs after Carter’s RBI ended the inning, leaving the Mets still trailing 2–1.

The remainder of the game turned into a classic pitchers’ duel. DeGrom, after that shaky first, was lights out, striking out batter after batter and keeping the Dodgers’ legendary lineup in check. Valenzuela had been nearly untouchable for eight innings, allowing only the Mets’ one run while working quickly and efficiently. In the ninth, the Mets tried to mount one final rally. Howard Johnson pinch-hit for Edgardo Alfonzo, and Todd Hundley pinch-hit for Cleon Jones, hoping to take advantage of favorable matchups and maybe hit a game-tying long ball. But Dodgers closer Eric Gagné was waiting. Johnson grounded out, Hundley popped out, and Francisco Lindor’s grounder to second ended the game. The Dodgers completed the sweep, winning 2–1, but the Mets’ stars had made them work for every out in a tense, strategic finish.

In the end, the Dodgers walked away with the sweep, but the Mets left the field with their pride intact, a reminder of the enduring appeal and drama of Franchise Fridays. All three games in the series were one-run affairs, with the Mets dropping Game 1 by a score of 2–1, Game 2 by 5–4, and Game 3 by 2–1. Of the 27 innings played across the series, the Mets held the lead for just two, making it a nail-biting, hard-fought set of contests where every pitch and every at-bat mattered. It was a series that showcased the tension, strategy, and excitement that make these all-time franchise matchups so compelling for fans of both teams.