Mets 3, Rockies 2
NEW YORK-Juan Lagares hit a two-run triple in the first inning Tuesday night and delivered a tie-breaking RBI infield single in the eighth inning to lift the New York Mets to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies in front of 27,198 at Citi Field.
The Mets (50-60) snapped a two-game losing streak. They haven't lost three in a row since June 13-15.
The Rockies (52-62) lost their third in a row and for the seventh time in their last eight games overall.
Lagares was 2-for-4 while Ike Davis reached base in all four plate appearances via two doubles and two walks (one intentional).
Mets third baseman Wilmer Flores, who was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas earlier in the day and made his major league debut on his 22nd birthday, went 0-for-4 with an error. Flores is expected to play regularly at third base while David Wright is on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain.
Scott Atchison (2-0) earned the win by working around a leadoff walk in the eighth. LaTroy Hawkins gave up two two-out singles but earned his first save after retiring pinch-hitter Yorvit Torrealba on a lineout to first. Mets closer Bobby Parnell was placed on the DL earlier in the day.
Young, whom the Mets acquired from the Rockies on June 18, began the winning rally by singling to left off Wilton Lopez (1-4). Daniel Murphy and Marlon Byrd each flied out, with Young taking second on Byrd's fly out.
After an intentional walk to Davis, Lagares hit a 2-2 pitch just beyond the grasp of Lopez. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu charged and threw to first, but Lagares beat the throw by a step. Young never slowed down rounding third and hit another gear as he raced towards home. He slid in well ahead of the throw from Todd Helton.
Nolan Arenado had a sacrifice fly in the fifth while Charlie Blackmon delivered a pinch-hit homer in the sixth for the Rockies.
The game was delayed 15 minutes prior to Blackmon's homer after home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez was hit in the jaw by a foul ball. Two pitches after play resumed, Blackmon hit the homer.
Mets starter Jenrry Mejia allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed just two hits through the first five innings before surrendering Blackmon's leadoff homer in the sixth and later exiting with the bases loaded.
Carlos Torres got out of the jam with some help from Young, who made a diving catch of Helton's sinking liner to end the inning and save at least two runs from scoring.
Chad Bettis, who made the emergency start for the Rockies after Tyler Chatwood was scratched because of left hamstring tightness, allowed two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two over five innings. Bettis gave up both runs in the first before but settled down and retired 13 of the final 15 batters he faced, including the last seven in a row.
The Mets jumped on Bettis with two runs in the first. Daniel Murphy singled with one out and was forced at second on Marlon Byrd's grounder to third. Davis followed with his first double and Lagares drove both runners home by tripling into the gap in right centerfield.
The Rockies scored an unearned run in the fifth when Wilin Rosario singled and went to third when Davis misplayed a one-hopper by Helton. Arenado followed with a sacrifice fly but Murphy made a nice diving stop of DJ LeMahieu's grounder and turned the 4-6-3 double play.
NOTES: The Mets placed RHP Bobby Parnell on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 31, with a herniated disc in his neck. He had an epidural on Monday and Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said surgery could be an option if the epidural doesn't work. Manager Terry Collins said the Mets will utilize a closer by committee with Parnell out. ... Flores became the second Mets player in history to make his big league debut on his birthday. RHP John Pacella turned 21 on Sept. 15, 1977, when he pitched two innings against the Phillies. ... Rockies manager Walt Weiss said before the game he hoped Chatwood could start the series finale on Thursday. ... LF Carlos Gonzalez (sprained right middle finger) didn't start but was available off the bench. Gonzalez has been battling the injury for a month and aggravated it again Sunday against the Pirates. Weiss said the Rockies will decide soon whether or not to place Gonzalez on the disabled list.
