Mets’ Ruben Tejada carted off field after controversial slide

The Dodgers finally tied the game late Saturday, but it came equipped with controversy, and no doubt, some angry Mets.

With runners on the corners, one out in the bottom of the seventh inning and the Dodgers trailing, 2-1, Howie Kendrick hit a bouncer up the middle to second baseman Daniel Murphy.

Murphy flipped the ball to shortstop Ruben Tejada at second as Chase Utley came charging in. Tejada got the ball too late to turn a double play, but had to almost spin to turn toward first to make a throw.

But by then Utley had slid into him hard, late and wide of second base, upending Tejada and landing him hard on his back.

He never got back up. Tejada was removed from the field on a cart, while Mets third baseman David Wright stared into the Dodgers’ dugout. No doubt, the Mets felt it was a dirty play.

To make it worse for New York, the Dodgers challenged whether Tejada had ever touched the bag and, though it was extremely close, won. Utley returned to second, though he had never really touched the base himself after initially being called out.

Adrian Gonzalez then delivered a clutch two-run double to give the Dodgers their first lead in the series. Justin Turner added an RBI double and the Dodgers led 5-2 heading into the eighth.