Hyun-Jin Ryu outmatched Jason Vargas in an unlikely pitcher's duel Thursday night, when Ryu earned the win by tossing 7 2/3 scoreless innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the New York Mets 2-0.

The Dodgers took three of four from the Mets, but Thursday's game marked a decided departure from the first three tilts, during which Los Angeles outscored New York 21-20.

The Dodgers appeared primed for another big game against Vargas, who entered Thursday with a 5.22 ERA and hadn't pitched more than 5 1/3 innings in any of his first seven starts this season. And Los Angeles got off to a fast start by taking a 1-0 lead just four pitches into the game on a leadoff triple by Chris Taylor and a double by Max Muncy.

But the 36-year-old Vargas (1-3) settled down and kept the Dodgers off-balance the rest of the way with a mix of mid-80s fastballs and off-speed stuff. Vargas allowed just the one run on six hits and three walks while striking out six over seven innings. It was just the second time Vargas pitched beyond the sixth inning in 28 starts with the Mets dating back to the start of last season.

Unfortunately for Vargas and the Mets, that first-inning run was enough for Ryu (8-1), who might have locked up National League Pitcher of the Month honors in limiting the Mets to four hits and one walk while striking out seven. Ryu went 5-0 with a 0.59 ERA in six starts this month to lower his ERA to a baseball-best 1.48.

The Mets got just two runners into scoring position against Ryu. In the second inning, Todd Frazier drew a one-out walk and advanced to second when Carlos Gomez followed with a single. Pete Alonso led off the seventh with a double but was stranded there.

Kenley Jansen relieved Ryu in the eighth with a runner on first and two outs, and he struck out pinch hitter Dominic Smith on three pitches.

The Dodgers added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, when David Freese doubled with one out and scored on Enrique Hernandez's two-out single. Jansen then tossed a hitless ninth to close out his 16th save.

Freese and Alex Verdugo had two hits apiece for the Dodgers.

--Field Level Media