LOS ANGELES — Daniel Vogelbach brought a needed jolt to the left-handed DH spot for the Mets on Monday.
After swinging a quiet bat over 2 ½ weeks to begin the season, Vogelbach launched a two-run homer against Dustin May in the second inning of the Mets’ 8-6 victory over Dodgers. The blast was Vogelbach’s first this season.
Vogelbach serves as the DH against right-handed pitching. He entered play with a .174/.387/.217 slash line with three RBIs.
“Homers are obviously good, but I have had 25 at-bats,” Vogelbach said. “I am not going to panic or think I am going to have a bad year because I haven’t hit a home run in 25 at-bats. I always try to base myself off of swinging at good pitches and walking. Slugging and stuff comes in bunches.”
Before the game Buck Showalter defended Vogelbach’s slow start.
“He’s hit some balls hard — like [Sunday],” Showalter said. “I know he’s frustrated, but the thing I like is he continues to be a guy that walks and gets on base a lot. He hasn’t gotten away from that element that he brought.
“He’ll end up with his track record offensively, but I am really proud that he hasn’t let them get him out of the strike zone. That’s hard to do. You are expected to do certain things with the bat and he’s doing it with the walks too.”
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Tim Locastro was placed on the injured list with back spasms and Jose Butto optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, a day after the right-hander pitched five innings against the Athletics. Brett Baty’s recall from Syracuse accounted for Locastro’s roster spot and the Mets recalled right-hander Edwin Uceta for the bullpen.
Locastro appeared in Sunday’s game as a pinch-runner and Showalter said the back spasms arose afterward.
“It had been a little bit of an issue, but it just got to the point where we wanted to try to solve it and get it behind him,” Showalter said. “It’s nothing leg related, but pretty uncomfortable.”
Butto pitched five innings Sunday as a spot starter in Oakland and allowed one earned run over five innings. It was the second major league start of the right-hander’s career.
Max Scherzer had a “good day,” according to Showalter, and appears in good position to start Wednesday against the Dodgers. The Mets co-ace was moved back three days in the rotation because of discomfort beneath his right scapula.
Justin Verlander is scheduled to throw a second bullpen session Tuesday. If there aren’t any complications, the right-hander will throw live batting practice later in the week. Verlander has been on the IL with a strained teres major muscle since the season started.
