Grandy backs deGrom's dandy to gain split
PHOENIX -- The Mets finally did on Sunday what manager Terry Collins had hoped they'd accomplish throughout this four-game series against the D-backs at Chase Field -- put together some decent pitching with a modicum of hitting. And they did just that in a 6-3 win.
Jacob deGrom pitched seven innings of three-run, five-hit ball, striking out 10, and the Mets offense produced four home runs, including two by Curtis Granderson. Eric Campbell had a two-run shot and Wilmer Flores added another. The right-handed deGrom's record improved to 7-4 with wins in his last four decisions as the clubs split the series.
Video: NYM@ARI: deGrom strikes out 10 en route to win No. 7
"This is the kind of game you've got to have if you're going to be successful," Collins said as the Mets flew home to open an eight-game homestand against the Giants on Tuesday night at 31-27 and in first place by a half game over the Nationals in the National League East. "You've got to have some games when you put some runs on the board and your pitcher has some room to breath. This one was a good one for us."
The homers all came off D-backs starter Josh Collmenter, who lasted six innings and was pelted for five runs on nine hits. Collmenter's record dropped to 3-6 and his ERA is at 5.24.
"Just can't pitch in the middle of the zone, all of the home runs were probably balls over the plate," Collmenter said. "If I go back and look at them, I'm sure it's pitches that they want to hit."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
As a Mets fan, have to hate those unearned runs: A throwing error by third baseman Campbell on a routine double-play grounder hit by Paul Goldschmidt with runners on first and third in the first inning and no one out led to it. Ender Inciarte would have scored anyway on the grounder, but A.J. Pollock was able to scoot to third when Campbell's throw to second got away. Pollock scored the unearned run on David Peralta's sacrifice fly. It should be noted that Campbell is the fill-in for the injured Daniel Murphy, who was moved to third when David Wright went on the disabled list. Campbell atoned with his two-run homer in the second.
Video: NYM@ARI: Peralta's sac fly gives the D-backs the lead
Not loving the long ball: Collmenter surrendered a leadoff home run to Granderson on the fourth pitch of the game. The next inning, the right-hander gave up a two-run shot to Campbell that put the Mets ahead 3-2. Granderson hit his second homer of the game to lead off the fifth and Flores hit another to lead off the sixth for Collmenter's career-high fourth allowed. After allowing just one home run in his first five starts, Collmenter has given up 12 in his last seven outings. More >
Video: NYM@ARI: Mets touch up Collmenter for four home runs
Bases loaded, but no dice: For the third consecutive game, the Mets squandered two-out, bases-loaded situations, coming up without what could have been big insurance runs. On Friday night, it happened in the fourth inning and Saturday night, when they lost, 2-1, it was the sixth inning. Collins couldn't help but take note. Thus, he couldn't have been too happy when the Mets did it it twice on Sunday. deGrom popped out to short in the fourth inning and Michael Cuddyer flied to center in the ninth.
Video: NYM@ARI: Collmenter pops up deGrom to escape trouble
Putting up zeroes: After Pollock singled in the second at-bat of the game, the D-backs went until the sixth inning before mustering another hit, when Goldschmidt and Peralta hit back-to-back singles. deGrom struck out nine and walked two during that hitless stretch, without allowing a D-backs batter to get past first base.
"95-to-96 mile-an-hour fastball, cutter at 90, nasty slider and a change-up," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "He's got them all and he's athletic, moves the ball around. He's a very good pitcher."
Video: NYM@ARI: deGrom K's Collmenter to strike out the side
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The game-opening, leadoff homer by Granderson was his third of the season and 31st of his career. When he added another shot to lead off the fifth, it was Granderson's first multi-homer game of the season and 16th of his career. His last one was against the Giants in San Francisco almost exactly a year ago on June 8.
Video: NYM@ARI: Granderson's blast gives the Mets early lead
WELCOME BACK
D-backs reliever David Hernandez made his first appearance since Sept. 29, 2013 when he came on to open the eighth inning after missing all of the 2014 season due to Tommy John surgery. The right-hander walked Lucas Duda before recording three straight outs, including a strikeout of Juan Lagares to end the inning.
"The game was tight still and we needed three outs and he got them for us," Hale said. "Definitely good to see, I could see a big exhale when he came off and relieved."
Video: NYM@ARI: Hernandez fans Lagares to cap scoreless 8th
WHAT'S NEXT
Mets: After an off-day on Monday, the Mets open an eight-game homestand at Citi Field on Tuesday night against the defending World Series champion Giants. It'll be rookie right-hander Noah Syndergaard (2-3, 3.77) for New York against another rookie right-hander, Chris Heston (5-4, 4.29) for the Giants.
D-backs: The D-backs open an eight-game road trip with a three-game series against the Dodgers that begins on 7:10 p.m. PT Monday. Rubby De La Rosa heads to the mound looking to rebound from allowing a season-high seven runs his last time out. The right-hander is in search of his first win since May 12.
Watch every out-of-market regular season game live on MLB.TV.