Mets 12, Brewers 5
MILWAUKEE -- Kirk Nieuwenhuis went 4-for-4 with five RBIs and Ike Davis had three hits in his first game back with the New York Mets in a 12-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night at Miller Park.
The Mets got plenty of help from Milwaukee's defense, which committed three errors --- moving the Brewers into a tie for the second most in the National League with 61 -- but also managed to pound out 14 hits and walk eight times on their way to snapping a two-game losing streak.
A majority of those base runners came against Milwaukee starter Johnny Hellweg.
His own lack of control and the Brewers' shoddy defense made for an all-around awful day for Hellweg, who struggled in his second major league start. Only three of the seven runs scored against him were earned, but Hellweg still allowed seven hits and five walks during his 93-pitch, 3 2/3-inning outing.
In three appearances spanning 6 1/3 innings since being called up June 26, Hellweg has given up 16 runs (nine earned), 15 hits and eight walks with just two strikeouts.
Zack Wheeler (2-1) went five innings and picked up the victory after holding the Brewers to three runs and seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Eric Young opened the game with a single and gave New York a 1-0 lead on Nieuwenhuis' bases-loaded walk. Juan Lagares made it 2-0 when he reached on a fielder's choice that scored David Wright before Hellweg worked out of it.
Milwaukee tied the score in the bottom of the inning, but an error by Jean Segura set the stage for a three-run second by the Mets, who took a 5-2 lead on Nieuwenhuis' two-run single.
Hellweg (0-2) worked around a two-out single in the third but again struggled in the fourth when the Mets added two runs thanks to another Milwaukee error before Tyler Thornburg came on in relief of Hellweg.
The Brewers got a run in the fourth on a home run by Juan Francisco and added one in the seventh on Carlos Gomez's RBI double but stranded eight runners in the game and lost for the eighth time in 10 games.
Josh Edgin picked up his first save of the season, closing with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
NOTES: The Mets designated Brandon Lyon for assignment Friday and recalled RHP Greg Burke from Triple-A Las Vegas. They also recalled Ike Davis from Las Vegas and optioned Gonzalez Coleman. Davis was in the starting lineup Friday night, batting cleanup. ... Milwaukee got some optimistic news about a number of injured plays, including Ryan Braun, who is expected to take batting practice Saturday as he works his way back from a hand injury that has sidelined him since June 10. RHP Nelson Figaro is progressing well following an oblique strain and could return sometime this weekend. Wily Peralta, who left his last start with a tweaked hamstring, threw a bullpen session Friday and reported no issues.
