It’s probably safe to say that nobody expected what happened to Dodgers right-hander Zach Lee in his MLB debut on Saturday night. His first inning alone is the stuff that pitcher’s nightmares are made of. In his 4.2 innings of work, the 23-year-old Plano, Texas native allowed seven runs on 11 hits while striking out three and walking one. He allowed one home run and three doubles. In other words, he was… well… awful in the 15-2 shellacking by the Mets.

Now granted, Lee was undoubtedly nervous making his MLB debut on the road against Mets ace Matt Harvey and gets a bit of a pass for that. But the bottom line is that when you keep throwing the ball right over the middle of the plate pitch after pitch, you’re going to get torched – and Zach Lee got torched.

“I was a little bit nervous at the beginning,” Lee told SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo after the game. “Balls were up a little bit more than they should have been. This game it’s such a matter of inches. If I’m two inches further down I get more ground balls, maybe add some guys that are swing throughs and misses. Unfortunately tonight just wasn’t one of those nights.”

Unless the Dodgers acquire a starting pitcher before the July 31 trade deadline, Zach Lee will probably get another start in five days. What happens after that is anyone’s guess.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But regardless of how much Lee struggled on the mound, his teammates gave him almost no run support at the plate. Aside from solo home runs by Joc Pederson (21) and Jimmy Rollins (13), his third in three days, the Dodgers managed only seven hits on the night. And to add insult to injury, the Dodgers were 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position and stranded five runners on base. Simply put, the Dodgers were out of this one the moment Zach Lee walked Curtis Granderson to leadoff the bottom of the first inning.

The silver lining to Saturday night’s train wreck is that Dodgers star center fielder Joc Pederson went 3 for 4 with a single, a double and a home run. He also made a spectacular throw to nail Granderson at the plate in the bottom of the second inning to prevent the Mets from scoring in that frame – one of only three in which this occurred.

Joc Pederson’s throw to catcher Yasmani Grandal was right on the money to nail Curtis Granderson at the plate on Saturday night. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

But Zach Lee wasn’t the only Dodgers pitcher who struggled in Saturday’s massacre. Right-hander Chin-hui Tsao gave up six runs on seven hits including two home runs and two doubles while walking one and striking out none in his 0.2 innings of work. Tsao was followed by right-hander Josh Ravin who allowed two runs on two hits – one a home run –  while walking three and striking out three in his 1.1 innings pitched.

On the bight side, right-hander Joel Peralta retired the only batter he faced and left-hander J.P. Howell allowed only one hit while striking out two in his 1.0 scoreless inning of work. In doing so, Howell lowered his ERA to a minuscule 0.31.

It doesn’t get much uglier than this.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

It would be criminal not to acknowledge the outstanding performance by Mets starter Matt Harvey who held the Dodgers to only two runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out four. The 26-year-old New London, CT native improved his record to 9-7 while lowering his ERA to 3.16. Credit also goes to Mets rookie left fielder Michael Conforto who was 4 for 4 on the night with two doubles and two singles. The 22-year-old Woodlinville, Washington native made his MLB debut on Friday night and has immediately become a fan favorite with the City Field faithful.

Immediately following the game, the Dodgers optioned both Tsao and Ravin back to Triple-A Oklahoma City – not as punishment but to clear a roster spot for Dodgers co-ace Zack Greinke, who is currently on paternity leave.

Sunday’s series finale figures to be a great one with Greinke (9-2, 1.30 ERA) and his 43.2 consecutive scoreless innings streak facing Mets right-hander and fellow All-Star Jacob deGrom (10-6, 2.18 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 am (PT).