NEW YORK -- The Mets got another strong performance from a starting pitcher Monday, and not coincidentally, they got another win.
Rookie right-hander Robert Gsellman allowed just one earned run in seven innings, and the Mets beat the Brewers, 4-2, at Citi Field for their third win in the last four games. Gsellman also drove in two of the Mets runs with a sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded walk, but more important to the game -- and the Mets -- were the 21 outs he got, including 12 of the last 17 via groundouts.
"That's the guy we saw last year," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "That's the guy we knew he could be."
Gsellman hasn't always been that guy so far in 2017, but in the Mets' injury-riddled starting rotation, the team has had little choice but to stick with him. But even though he has put together back-to-back solid starts, but he's still likely headed to the bullpen soon with Steven Matz and Seth Lugo expected back from the disabled list after their final Minor League rehab starts.

The return of Matz and Lugo should bolster a starting rotation that may be coming around. Jacob deGrom worked into the ninth inning Friday in Pittsburgh, and Matt Harvey allowed just one run in six innings Sunday night against the Pirates.
Gsellman continued the trend, allowing just an unearned run in the fifth inning and Domingo Santana's eighth home run of the season in the sixth. The Brewers had just three hits off Gsellman, and they added two more in the ninth off Mets closer Addison Reed.
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Matt Garza gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings and took the loss for the Brewers. Garza cruised through the first four innings, scattering two singles and a walk, before allowing three runs in the fifth.
"Gsellman threw a hell of a game," Garza said. "He went seven, did what he was supposed to do."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Cabrera leads the Mets back:Asdrubal Cabrera began the Brewers' half of the fifth inning with a throwing error that put Jonathan Villar on base, and Villar came around to score the game's first run. Cabrera made up for the mistake with a single that started New York's three-run rally in the bottom half of the inning, and he also drew a two-out walk that led to a Mets run in the sixth.

Gsellman goes seven: Collins took some heat from fans when he removed Gsellman after six innings last week, as the Padres came back to beat the Mets' bullpen. He easily could have limited Gsellman to six again Monday, especially when the pitcher's spot came up with two out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth and Gsellman already on 89 pitches. This time, Collins chose to stick with Gsellman, explaining that with a tired bullpen, he wanted three more outs. It paid off -- in two ways. First, Garza walked Gsellman to force in a run. Second, Gsellman retired the Brewers in order in the seventh, allowing Collins to use Paul Sewald and Reed for the final six outs. Gsellman, who had just one RBI in 33 career plate appearances before Monday, ended up with two in the same game.
"It's a matchup we want," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "We'll take it every time with one of our guys. You gotta get that guy out. I think a walk is kind of the last thing that can happen there." More >

QUOTABLE
"Ground balls. That's what I like. Easy outs." -- Gsellman
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Wilmer Flores, who finished 3-for-4 on Monday with a run scored, is hitting .393 in 21 games in May, with nine multi-hit games in just 13 starts.
"I'm just ready to hit, as simple as that," Flores said.
WHAT'S NEXT
Brewers: Right-hander Zach Davies will look to toss his third consecutive quality start Tuesday night (6:10 p.m. CT) against the Mets at Citi Field. The Brewers are just 6-10 in Game 2s of series this season.
Mets: Right-hander Tyler Pill makes his first Major League start Tuesday night (7:10 p.m. ET) against the Brewers at Citi Field. Pill, who turned 27 on Monday, made his Major League debut in relief on Saturday in Pittsburgh.
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