Mets 5, Orioles 1
NEW YORK -- Rookie second baseman Dilson Herrera had three hits, including a two-run homer, and three RBIs Wednesday night and right-hander Jacob deGrom threw seven strong innings as the New York Mets beat the Baltimore Orioles, 5-1, at Citi Field.
The Mets (18-10) swept the brief two-game interleague series for their first back-to-back wins since an 11-game winning streak ended April 23. New York has won eight straight over the Orioles dating back to June 11, 2010.
The Orioles (12-13) have dropped consecutive games for the first time since a five-game losing streak from April 20-24.
Herrera entered the night with just one hit in 13 at-bats since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, but he singled home the Mets’ first run in the second and singled to extend a run-scoring rally in the fourth before hitting a two-run homer in the sixth.
Right fielder Curtis Granderson homered in the third and delivered a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
DeGrom (3-3) survived a rocky fifth inning, during which the Orioles twice loaded the bases but scored just once, to last seven innings for the second time this season. He allowed the one run on six hits and one walk while striking out nine.
Second baseman Jimmy Paredes had an RBI single in the fifth for the Orioles while third baseman Manny Machado had two hits and two stolen bases.
Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (2-2) took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out one over four innings.
The Mets, who had scored in just one of their previous 26 innings, scored once apiece in the second, third and fourth innings Wednesday.
In the second, left fielder Michael Cuddyer drew a leadoff walk, went to second on a walk by Kevin Plawecki and scored on Herrera’s single up the middle.
Granderson led off the third with a homer to right and delivered a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the fourth after Plawecki, Herrera and deGrom all had singled with one out.
The Orioles got on the board in the fifth but squandered chances to pull even closer. With the bases loaded and one out, right fielder Alejandro De Aza laid down a safety squeeze. Shortstop Everth Cabrera, who had been hit with a pitch with one out, hesitated breaking from third. DeGrom fielded the ball and fired to third, where Daniel Murphy applied a backhanded tag.
Paredes followed with a single to score pinch-hitter Travis Snider, who had singled.
Center fielder Adam Jones walked to reload the bases, but deGrom wriggled out of the jam by coming back from a 3-1 deficit to strike out first baseman Chris Davis.
NOTES: Orioles SS J.J. Hardy, who has been on the disabled list all season with a left shoulder strain, was scheduled to play in his third rehab game Wednesday for Double-A Bowie. Manager Buck Showalter said Hardy could be activated for Thursday's series opener against the New York Yankees. ... Orioles LHP Wesley Wright is scheduled to throw off a mound Monday for the first time since going on the disabled list with a left trapezius strain on April 15. ... According to Elias Sports Bureau, 41-year-old Mets RHP Bartolo Colon has more strikeouts (34) before issuing his second walk than any 40-something pitcher since at least 1900. ... The Mets were off Monday and will be off again Thursday. After that, they have just two more days off in a 45-day span ending June 21.