NEW YORK -- The inability to sweep opponents has stunted the Mets' momentum all season, and the Rockies took advantage of that 2017 truism.
After being outscored 23-5 over the first two games of the series, the Rockies responded with their own offensive outburst in a 13-4 win to prevent the home team from securing a sweep out of the All-Star break.
The offense came early and often for the Rockies, with four runs off Mets starter Steven Matz in the first inning. In his first game back from the disabled list, Ian Desmond made it 2-0 with a two-out, two-run single through the right side. Two batters later, Trevor Story doubled down the left-field line to make it 4-0 before the Mets even came to bat. Nolan Arenado's three-run home run in the second inning upped the lead to 7-0, and Matz faced just one more batter after that for the shortest and worst outing of his career.

DJ LeMahieu laced four hits and scored three runs, while Charlie Blackmon and Gerardo Parra each added two-run homers in the seventh and eighth, respectively, with Blackmon's ruled an inside-the-parker, his second of the season.
"Big hit [from Desmond], for sure, and I think it did set the tone," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "And we just kept going. We're capable of that. I thought our at-bats were really sound."

Rockies starter Jeff Hoffman earned the win in a homecoming of sorts. Hoffman, a native of Latham, N.Y., allowed four runs over six innings. Lucas Duda drilled a solo shot off the Shea Bridge in the fourth and Asdrubal Cabrera hit a two-run homer the next inning to provide the bulk of the Mets' offense against Hoffman.

"There was actually more jitters this time than I've ever had," Hoffman said. "It's nice to be back in my home state and hear familiar voices cheering for me. My dad's voice carries. I've heard that voice for a long time, telling me how to play the game."
The Mets are now 5-11 on Sundays and just 2-7 when attempting a series sweep this season.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Arenado's blast KOs Matz: Matz entered with a 7-3 record and a 1.99 ERA in 11 career starts during the day, but the Rockies quickly disregarded those numbers. Already cushioned with a 4-0 lead, Colorado's offense went back to work in the second. A Blackmon double and a LeMahieu single brought up Arenado, who parked one 419 feet to left-center. Matz lasted one more batter, allowing a single to Mark Reynolds, before receiving the hook. The average exit velocity of those final four hits was 96.8 mph, according to Statcast™.

"It all happened so quick, to be honest," Matz said. "The balls were just over the heart of the plate and they were able to get their barrels to it."
Blackmon's dive keeps Mets at bay: The Mets' offense was by no means dormant against Hoffman, and in the sixth, Jay Bruce and T.J. Rivera laced back-to-back singles with the Mets trailing, 9-3. Duda flied out to center, bringing Jose Reyes to the dish. Reyes lined one to the left-center-field gap and Blackmon came flying in, sliding feet first and making the catch to reduce the play to a sac fly rather than an extra-base hit. Blackmon covered 76 feet to reach the ball, according to Statcast™, and had a catch probability of 52 percent. Hoffman retired the next hitter, Rene Rivera, on a popout to right to end the inning and preserve a substantial lead.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• With Matz unable to record an out in the second, it marked the briefest outing from a Mets starter since Sean Gilmartin recorded just two outs on Sept. 24, 2016.
• Sunday's game was just the third time since 2008 the Rockies have scored 13 or more runs on the road. They also did it in 2011 in Houston (a 19-3 win) and in '16 in San Francisco (a 17-7 win). In that same span, they've scored 13 or more 19 times at Coors Field.
• Rox hoping breakout bats have 'waterfall' effect
• Both Blackmon and T.J. Rivera extended their hitting streaks to 11, which is tied for the longest active streak in the Majors.

INSIDE THE PARK?
Blackmon got credit for his second inside-the-park home run of the season, even though it appeared that his seventh-inning fly ball cleared the wall in center field. Replays appeared to show that the ball hit above the orange home-run line, but umpires ruled the ball in play and Blackmon circled the bases, unaware that the ball actually hit above the line. Mets center fielder Curtis Granderson, who was close enough to see the ball hit above the line, didn't pursue it after it bounced past him. Because Blackmon scored, there was no need to review the play, although Blackmon said he would have preferred to have it scored as a regular home run.

"It's not hard to believe [the umpires] missed it," Granderson said. "But, I mean, I'm not going to run after a ball I know was over the fence, you know? Whether I run after it, get it, throw it in there, they're going to check the replay, and it's going to show just like what all you guys, I'm sure, saw -- it went over the fence."
Blackmon is the only Rockies player with an inside-the-park home run this season, with his first one coming April 21 against the Giants at Coors Field. The Rockies have had 17 inside-the-park home runs in franchise history. Blackmon and Brandon Barnes (2014) are the only players with two in the same season, and Blackmon is the only player in the Major Leagues with two this season.

"As Gerardo Parra said, he hit two home runs on the same play," Black said. "And that is hard to do."
WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies: Right-hander German Marquez makes his first start since July 7 when the Rockies open a three-game series with the Padres Monday night at Coors Field. Right-hander Luis Perdomo starts for San Diego, with first pitch set for 6:40 p.m. MT.
Mets: After taking two of three against the Rockies, the Mets will stay home and look to rebound against the Cardinals in the opener of a four-game set Monday. Right-hander Zack Wheeler (3-6, 4.86 ERA) will start opposite the Cardinals' Adam Wainwright (10-5, 5.20 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
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