DENVER — The New York Mets came to the right place to rev up their offence.
New York roughed up the Colorado Rockies by the exact same 14-9 score for the second straight day, with Juan Uribe homering to start an eight-run burst in the third inning Saturday night.
"This is Colorado," Uribe said. "This is a place where offence happens. I know. I started my career here."
The NL East leaders got a season high-tying 21 hits, including 10 for extra bases. Every New York starter had at least one hit, with pitcher Jonathon Niese (8-9) delivering a two-run single in the big third.
"I loved it. Loved that I was a part of it," Niese said.
Not so for his counterpart.
Coming off his first career shutout, Chris Rusin (4-6) went two-plus innings and allowed 11 runs and 12 hits, eight of them doubles.
Rockies manager Walt Weiss said unlike his previous outing, Rusin’s pitching location was off.
"His pitches were elevated," Weiss said. "Everything was down the last time out. And the ball is flying right now. That’s the way the park has played the last couple nights."
It was 14-3 in the fifth inning before Colorado began a comeback that fell short.
"This is how teams win pennants," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "But you have to be careful. They play very good in their park, they are tough to play here. This is a stretch you have to make hay, because we are going to run into the Yankees and run into the Nationals. We’ll have our work cut out for us. Right now we have to take each one that we can get."
A day after Yoenis Cespedes homered three times, got five hits and drove in seven runs for the Mets, he singled twice and drove in a run.
Curtis Granderson, who had three hits, and Travis d’Arnaud each had two doubles for the Mets.
Uribe gave the Mets a home run in a season-high nine straight games. Rusin faced eight batters in the third without recording an out before being lifted in favour of reliever Justin Miller.
"That third inning, I definitely missed my spots and left the ball up," Rusin said. "It was just one of those games as a starter. It’s one of a starter’s worst nightmares. You don’t ever wish it upon anybody, you don’t wish it upon yourself. It’s one of those things you have to forget about, wipe away, have a short term memory and get started on the next team you’re about to face."
Kyle Parker tripled, doubled and drove in four runs for Colorado. Charlie Blackmon and Jose Reyes hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth.
Niese went 5 1-3 innings and gave up seven runs and 11 hits.
Down 3-0, the Rockies evened the score on Parker’s bases-loaded triple in the second.
The Mets quickly broke open the game when Uribe drove an 0-2 offering from Rusin over the centre-field fence.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: 1B Lucas Duda has gone on the 15-day disabled list with a back injury. He tweaked his back during an at-bat on Friday and was lifted from the game. … 3B David Wright (hamstring) has nine hits in 24 at-bats over seven rehab games with Single-A St. Lucie. He’s expected to reinstated from the DL on Monday.
Rockies: RHP Kyle Kendrick, nearing a return from a right shoulder injury that put him on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 1, is scheduled to pitch a simulated game on Sunday. "He’s feeling good," Weiss said. "He is progressing. So the simulated game is next; try to build him back up and get him out there." … Catcher Nick Hundley was lifted in the bottom of the sixth inning after a foul tip came straight back and hit him in the head. "He was a little woozy so we got him out of there," Weiss said. Hundley is being examined for a possible concussion.
UP NEXT
Mets: With Matt Harvey getting a planned one-start break from the rotation, Logan Verrett (0-0) will get the start in his place.
Rockies: RHP David Hale (3-4) gave up a season-high six runs in his last start, though he escaped with a no-decision.
