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LAPD To Step Up Police Presence For NLDS Game 5 At Dodger Stadium

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Extra security is expected to be on hand Thursday at a sold-out Dodger Stadium as the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets get set to play the decisive fifth game of their National League Division Series.

Zack Greinke, who was the winning pitcher in Game 2 on Saturday, will start on the mound for the Dodgers against the Mets' Jacob deGrom.

Boasting Major League Baseball's best ERA (1.66) and winning percentage during the regular season, Greinke allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings, striking out eight and not walking a batter in a 5-2 victory.

The LAPD is also expected to beef up its presence for tonight's 5:07 p.m. game in the wake of an assault in the stadium's parking lot after Game 2.

Commander Andy Smith told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO while there will be more officers out for tonight's game than any other game of the year, it's a big crowd and a lot of ground to cover.

Some officers will be "dressed as Mets fans and Dodger fans...working in an undercover capacity looking for anybody who's out there to cause trouble," Smith said.

Team officials are urging fans to allow plenty of time to arrive due to the customary afternoon traffic. Fans were also
urged to car pool or use an alternative transportation service.

The Dodger Stadium Express - which is free for everyone with a game ticket - will begin service from Union Station two-and-a-half hours before the first pitch.

Dodger broadcaster and pitching legend Orel Hershiser will throw the ceremonial first pitch. Hershiser was the Dodgers' starting pitcher the last time they played a game in a postseason series that went the distance, Game 7 of the National League
Championship Series in 1988, pitching a five-hit shutout in a 6-0 victory over the Mets at Shea Stadium.

The winner of Thursday's game will advance to play the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series, which will begin Saturday.

Starting Lineups for Game 5

Mets

RF Granderson

3B Wright

2B Murphy

CF Cespedes

1B Duda

C d'Arnaud

LF Conforto

SS Flores

SP deGrom

Dodgers

2B Kendrick

SS Seager

1B Gonzalez

3B Turner

RF Ethier

C Grandal

LF Hernandez

CF Pederson

SP Greinke

(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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