NEW YORK (Interstat) — The Los Angeles Dodgers used a dominant pitching performance from Roki Sasaki and a two-run home run by Kyle Tucker in the eighth inning to defeat the New York Mets 4-2 on Friday night at Citi Field.

Sasaki allowed one run on three hits over seven innings, striking out nine and walking none. He threw 94 pitches, 65 for strikes, and retired 10 consecutive batters at one point. The win improved Sasaki to 4-5 on the season and came five days after he held the New York Yankees to no runs over 5 2/3 innings in a 2-1 victory.

The Dodgers extended their major league‑best record to 66‑38. The Mets dropped to 43‑61.

Tanner Scott pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 16th save, striking out one and allowing no hits.

The game remained tight past the midpoint before the Dodgers broke through with two runs in the eighth. Tucker’s homer off Brooks Raley, his eighth this season, scored Freddie Freeman and gave the Dodgers a 4‑1 lead. Raley, who took the loss for the Mets, allowed two hits and one earned run in his one inning of work, dropping to 4‑6.

The Mets cut the deficit to 4‑2 in the bottom of the eighth when catcher Francisco Alvarez hit a solo home run, his 12th of the year, off Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips. Phillips allowed one run on one hit with one strikeout in the inning.

Sasaki set the tone early. He retired the side in order in the first inning, then surrendered a solo home run to Luis Robert Jr. in the second. Robert’s fourth homer of the season gave the Mets a 1‑0 lead. The Dodgers answered in the fourth. Freddie Freeman singled, moved to third on a single by Mookie Betts, and scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Miguel Rojas, tying the game 1‑1.

The score remained tied through the middle innings, thanks in part to Mets starter Sean Manaea. Manaea pitched six innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out three. He left with the game knotted 1‑1.

The Dodgers took the lead in the seventh inning against Raley. Tucker led off with a single, and Teoscar Hernández followed with a single of his own. After a fielder’s choice put runners at second and third, Shohei Ohtani drove in Hernández with a sacrifice fly to center field, making it 2‑1.

Tucker delivered the decisive blow in the eighth. After Freeman singled, Raley retired the next two batters before Tucker launched a drive to right‑center field for a two‑run homer.

The Mets threatened in the ninth, but Scott retired Bo Bichette on a strikeout, Francisco Lindor on a fly out and Carson Benge on a line out to secure the victory.

For the Dodgers, Freeman finished 3‑for‑4 with a double, two singles and two runs scored. Ohtani had a double and a single in five at‑bats. Andy Pages tripled in the ninth inning. The Dodgers collected 11 hits, while the Mets managed only four.

New York first baseman Jared Young had two hits, including a double, in three at‑bats. Robert and Alvarez each homered. Designated hitter Juan Soto walked twice but did not get a hit.

The game drew an announced attendance of 35,338 and lasted 2 hours, 34 minutes.

Los Angeles has now won three of its last four games, including a 9‑5 victory at Philadelphia on Wednesday. The Mets had won their previous game, a 4‑0 shutout at Milwaukee on Tuesday.

The Dodgers swept a three‑game series against the Mets earlier this season in Los Angeles, winning 8‑2, 2‑1 and 4‑0.

Both teams continue their series Saturday. The Dodgers face the Mets again before returning home to face the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. The Mets host the Atlanta Braves on Monday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Los Angeles Dodgers 5, New York Mets 4. The ELO system gave the Dodgers a 66 percent probability of winning. Los Angeles was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5 runs. The total score of six runs went over the over‑under line of 8.5.