Collins shuffles Mets' lineup in search of spark

NEW YORK -- Searching for a way to get his lineup to produce some runs, Mets manager Terry Collins shuffled his lineup for Friday's game against Kansas City.

Collins moved second baseman Daniel Murphy down to the fifth spot, and first baseman Ike Davis down to seventh. Center fielder Juan Lagares hit second, where Murphy had been hitting.

Davis is hitting only .224 with one home run since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas, where he was sent to fix his swing and correct his issues at the plate, on July 5.

"I respect the fact that he's working on some things," Collins said. "He's trying to see pitches longer, he's trying to get a better ball to hit. Right now we need to drive in some runs."

The Mets have scored only two runs in their last two games.

Collins is hoping moving Murphy to the heart of the order helps turn that around. Murphy has been on a tear at the plate, hitting .337 with six doubles and 19 RBIs in his last 24 games. He also has at least one hit in 20 of those games.

"Murph is swinging good," Collins said. "I always thought no matter what, if it was a different situation where Ike was out, Dan Murphy's a perfect guy to hit down in that spot."

Lagares has also been producing, hitting .404 since July 9.

"We've got four guys in a row with 50 RBIs," Collins said of the middle of his order. "I kind of liked the way that looked."