Diamondbacks rally to edge Mets
NEW YORK -- After several weeks of frustrating near-misses, the Arizona Diamondbacks finally broke through Friday. But the close-but-not-quite struggles continue for Mets first baseman Ike Davis.
A Davis error fueled a three-run eighth inning for the Diamondbacks as they came back to edge the Mets, 5-4, in front of 26,995 at Citi Field. Cody Ransom's RBI single capped the rally for the Diamondbacks, who had lost their nine one-run games since opening the season with three straight one-run wins over the San Francisco Giants.
"We come out trying to win a game-one run, two runs, 10 runs, it really doesn't matter," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "You worry about that, it has a negative effect on you ... in the end I think we have the belief that we'll win the games that we have to win."
Brad Ziegler (1-1) earned the win by tossing a scoreless seventh inning while Jon Rauch (3-1) took the loss after allowing the game-tying and go-ahead hits.
The Diamondbacks sent eight batters to the plate in the eighth, which started when Justin Upton reached on Davis' error. Jason Kubel drew a walk off Tim Byrdak, who then struck out Miguel Montero before giving way to Rauch. Paul Goldschmidt greeted Rauch by lacing his first pitch into the gap in right-center field for a two-run double that tied the score 4-4.
Ransom, whose two-run homer in the second gave the Diamondbacks a short-lived lead, then worked the count full before singling home Goldschmidt. Ransom (2-for-3) was the lone Diamondbacks player with multiple hits. The 36-year-old, who has played for five big league teams, is hitting .345 with three homers and 10 RBI since his recall from Triple-A Reno on April 18.
"I just think he's comfortable," Gibson said of Ransom. "This is his second year here, he knows how we do things and he knows he's going to get an opportunity."
For Davis, meanwhile, Friday night marked another rough evening in a season already filled with struggles. Davis was 0-for-4 with an RBI groundout at the plate as his average dropped to .172 overall and a major league-worst .064 (3-for-47) at home. He also gave the Mets a scare when he appeared to twist his left ankle during his second inning at-bat. Davis sprained his left ankle last May 10 and missed the rest of the season.
"I've hit the ball decent, it's not like I'm looking too foolish at the plate, they're just not finding holes right now," Davis said. "I give up the error and then like clockwork it's how we give up three. So it's definitely on me tonight."
David Hernandez survived a rocky eighth inning in which the Mets left runners stranded on the corners when Kubel ran down Josh Thole's liner into the left-center field gap. J.J. Putz recorded his sixth save with a perfect ninth inning.
Prior to the Diamondbacks' comeback, Dillon Gee was in line to record the win for the Mets after allowing two runs on four hits over six innings. He struck out six and walked three.
The Mets scored all four runs in the third off Diamondbacks starter Wade Miley. Scott Hairston, who posted the 10th cycle in Mets history April 27, had a game-tying two-run double in the third and missed a three-run homer in the fifth by just inches down the left field line.
Miley allowed as many runs in the third as he had in his first 23 innings of the season. Miley, who earned NL Rookie of the Month honors after compiling a 1.29 ERA in 21 innings in April, allowed the four runs Friday on seven hits and two walks while striking out four over six innings.
NOTES: Mets manager Terry Collins said Miguel Batista would start for the Mets Tuesday in Philadelphia. Batista takes the spot of Chris Schwinden, who has an 11.25 ERA in two starts. Schwinden was optioned to Triple-A Friday to make room for utilityman Vinny Rottino. ... There has been a clamoring among Mets fans for the team to promote top prospect Matt Harvey and make him the team's fifth starter, but Collins, who was the Mets' farm director before he was named manager, said it's vital for a minor leaguer to learn to deal with struggles before they reach the majors. Harvey is 2-1 with a 4.80 ERA at Triple-A Buffalo. "When those people in the minor leagues tell me he's ready physically, I'm sure he'll be ready mentally," Collins said. "But it's good for him, in the couple starts down there where he's gotten roughed up a little bit, to learn how to get out of it, learn how to deal with it, move past it." ... Mets players walked to the plate to songs by the Beastie Boys in honor of band member Adam Yauch, who died at 47 Friday. ... Gibson said outfielder Chris Young, who has been on the disabled list since April 18 with a ligament tear in his right shoulder, is continuing to swing in the batting cage and just began a throwing program. ... Diamondbacks second baseman Aaron Hill reached base safely for the 21st straight game with a second inning single.
