Dodgers rally in ninth, but can’t hold back Mets in series-splitting loss

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There were wild momentum swings, questionable pitching decisions, a ninth-inning comeback and an extra-inning finish.

It might be the first week of June. But the Dodgers’ finale against the New York Mets — and most of this weekend’s four-game series overall — had the markings of something more than a typical early summer matchup.

“This is a good test,” shortstop Trea Turner said. “Any time you can go head-to-head with one of the better teams, it’s always fun.”

The only problem for the Dodgers: Sunday resulted in a disappointing 5-4 loss, a defeat that forced them to settle for a series split, finish a weeklong homestand with an ugly 2-5 record, and cede the top spot in the National League standings back to their resurgent visitors.

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A wild game featured one more unusual sequence in the bottom of the 10th, when the Dodgers were award a catchers interference call on a coach’s challenge — ultimately putting the tying and winning runs in scoring position.

However, the Dodgers couldn’t take advantage, as Will Smith struck out to end the game.

With the 5-4 win, the Mets salvaged a four-game series split and regained sole possession of the best record in the National League.

The Dodgers dropped to 35-19.

Final: Mets 5, Dodgers 4

The Mets got one run in the top of the 10th, after JD Davis hit the third pitch of the inning from Craig Kimbrel to left for an RBI double (Davis reached second after Chris Taylor failed to handle a high hop).

Kimbrel, however, limited the damage there, striking out Mark Canha before getting Eduardo Escobar to hit a lineout the Dodgers defense turned into a double-play, forcing out Davis after he overanxiously started running for third.

The Dodgers will have the top of their order due up in the bottom half. Speedy Gavin Lux will also start as the auto-runner at second base.

The Dodgers got within one run in the bottom of the ninth, after Will Smith hit a solo home run to lead off the inning.

Still, they were still down to their last strike with no one on base against Mets closer Seth Lugo.

Then, they found a way to complete the comeback.

In a full count with two outs, Chris Taylor doubled down the line. On the very next pitch, Eddy Alvarez — who is making his first start as a Dodger today — sent a bouncing ball up the middle for a game-tying RBI single.

We are heading for extras.

End 9th: Tied 4-4

With Daniel Hudson unavailable after pitching 1 1/3 innings on Friday, in what was his second consecutive appearance, the Dodgers asked Brusdar Graterol to try and get four outs as the set-up man today.

It didn’t pan out.

After getting the final out in the seventh inning, Graterol got knocked around in the eighth. The first two batters hit back-to-back doubles to tie the game.

A sacrifice fly with one out gave the Mets their first lead of the day.

And then, after Alex Vesia entered the game, the Mets tacked on another run with an RBI single.

All three runs were charged to Graterol, who has a 4.81 ERA this season.

End 8th: Mets lead 4-2

Usually, Julio Urías’ day might have been done at the end of the fifth.

At that point, the Dodgers were leading by one. Urías was cruising, but had also thrown 82 pitches. And the heart of the opposing order was coming up for a third time.

However, a night after the Dodgers bullpen had to cover 6 2/3 innings — including a ninth inning in which Dave Roberts tried using a position player on the mound, only to be denied by the umpires because of a new rule barring position players from pitching in games decided by six runs or less — the team needed Urías to go a little deeper.

The left-hander made sure the decision didn’t backfire.

Urías gave up a leadoff single in the sixth, but then got a popout against Pete Alonso. With his pitch count at 90, the Dodgers then decided to go to the bullpen, summoning Evan Phillips — who ultimately pitched the ninth inning Saturday — to escape the frame with the lead intact.

Urías finished the day giving up one run, three hits and three walks while striking out four. His ERA is now 2.78.

End 6th: Dodgers lead 2-1

The Mets are on the board, after Starling Marte hit a solo home run off Julio Urías to lead off the third.

Urías had been in trouble in the first two innings, issuing a two-out walk in the first before loading the bases with two walks and an infield single in the second. He got out of both of those jams, however.

The third-inning home run, on the other hand, came against a changeup on the outside edge. It was the 10th home run the left-hander has given up this year.

Mid 3rd: Dodgers lead 2-1

Trea Turner had his 26-game hitting streak snapped Saturday night.

He started a new one today with a two-run home run in the first inning.

The blast was Turner’s sixth of the year, and gives him 44 RBIs on the season, which ranks fifth in the majors.

End 1st: Dodgers lead 2-0

Dodgers left fielder Kevin Pillar makes a diving catch against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 29.

(Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)

The Kevin Pillar era seems to be over.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Pillar is set to have surgery Tuesday on his fractured left shoulder, which Roberts said “for all intents and purposes will end his season.”

Pillar suffered the injury sliding into third base Thursday. He tried to play through it for a few innings, but ultimately left the game and got scans the next day that revealed the extent of the injury.

Sunday’s lineup

Justin Turner will serve as designated hitter Sunday, and not play third base, because of a tight hamstring he picked up running the bases Saturday.

Roberts said Turner’s issue is “nothing major” and that the team is simply being “prudent” by having him only hit.

Eddy Alvarez will instead play third base in his first start with the Dodgers.

Here’s the Dodgers full lineup for Sunday, when they will have Julio Urías (3-5, 2.89 ERA) on the mound:

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Last week, Walker Buehler chucked his glove in anger when he reached the dugout.

On Saturday night, he simply scratched his head, flipped off his cap and buried his face in a towel.

All season, Buehler and the Dodgers have maintained confidence in the right-hander’s tantalizing skill set. They’ve remained steadfast in their faith given his dominant track record. They’ve promised that, despite some early inconsistency, he eventually would start looking like his old self on the mound.

This past week, however, Buehler’s season dropped to one new low, and then another — the Pittsburgh Pirates delivering the first blow in a four-run, six-inning start Monday, before the New York Mets administered a gut punch in Buehler’s shortest career start Saturday en route to a 9-4 defeat of the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

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Here’s a look at the Dodgers broadcast and streaming schedule for the remainder of the 2022 regular season: