Amid a huge outcry and chants of "We Want Utley" from New York Mets fans, Chase Utley was not in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday night- and when the game ended more than three hours later, the former Phillie remained on the bench.
The Mets defeated the Dodgers 13-7 at Citi Field, behind home runs from Yoenis Cespedes and Travis d'Arnaud, to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 National League Division Series. However, the player who got more attention than any other didn't see the field. "We Want Utley" chants could be heard throughout the game, as well as a variety of creative anti-Chase signs from Mets fans in the crowd, and Utley was loudly booed when he was introduced prior to the game.
Utley had been suspended Sunday for his hard slide at second base in Game 2, which caused a season-ending injury to Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. After Utley appealed the suspension, he was eligible to play pending appeal and while the team used 18 players in the game, Utley was not among them.
The series resumes with Game 4 in Queens Tuesday night, with the Mets getting a chance to win their first playoff series since 2006- when they also defeated the Dodgers in the Division Series round. The next two years, the Mets lost close NL East races to Utley and the Phillies.