The slumping Jeff McNeil laced a two-RBI double to cap a four-run second inning Saturday afternoon for the surging New York Mets, who beat the visiting Colorado Rockies 7-3 in the middle contest of a three-game series.
The Mets have won the first five games of a six-game homestand to improve to 9-4 this month. The Rockies have lost eight of 13 in July.
Luis Torrens was credited with an RBI in the second, when Brendan Rodgers threw away Torrens’ potential double-play ball immediately before McNeil’s hit. McNeil entered Saturday hitting just .167 (6-for-36) with one homer and two RBIs since his most recent multi-RBI game on June 28.
Francisco Lindor hit an eighth-inning three-run home run.
Jose Butto (4-3), the first of two New York relievers, allowed one hit over 2 2/3 innings. Dedniel Nunez tossed the final two innings for his first save.
Mets starter Christian Scott gave up three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out five over 4 1/3 innings.
Jake Cave homered in the third and Charlie Blackmon hit a two-run homer in the fifth for the Rockies. Ezequiel Tovar and Sam Hilliard had two hits apiece.
Rockies starter Ryan Feltner (1-8) allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits and five walks while striking out seven over 3 2/3 innings.
The Mets loaded the bases with one out in the second against Feltner, who got Torrens to hit a grounder to second. But Rodgers bobbled the ball before throwing wide of shortstop Tovar, which allowed Pete Alonso and DJ Stewart to score. McNeil’s double split the gap in right center three pitches later.
Cave homered leading off the third. The Rockies chased Scott in the fifth, when Blackmon hit a two-run homer with one out before Tovar doubled and Ryan McMahon walked. Butto entered and got Elias Diaz to hit into a 3-6-1 double play.
The Mets had one hit in 13 plate appearances with runners on following McNeil’s hit before Lindor’s homer off Jalen Beeks.
–Field Level Media
