Mets 4, Rockies 0
NEW YORK -- Right-handed pitcher Matt Harvey allowed four hits over eight shutout innings Tuesday night, when the New York Mets pulled away in the eighth inning of a 4-0 win over the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field.
The Mets (61-52) won the first two games of the four-game series.
The Rockies (47-64) are losers of their last 13 games.
Harvey (11-7) walked none, struck out four and was in cruise control all night in lowering his overall ERA to 2.61. In his last 10 starts dating back to June 16, Harvey is 5-3 with a 1.45 ERA.
Of the four hits Harvey allowed, only one -- a seventh-inning double by first baseman Ben Paulsen -- left the infield. Paulsen, one of only two Rockies to reach second base, was immediately erased when second baseman D.J. LeMahieu lined into a double play.
Harvey was locked in a pitcher's duel with Rockies left-hander Chris Rusin (3-5) until the sixth. Right fielder Michael Cuddyer, who came off the disabled list Monday and made his first start Tuesday since July 19, singled with one out.
One out later, catcher Travis d'Arnaud singled. Shortstop Ruben Tejada followed by lacing a 2-1 pitch into right field and Cuddyer scored easily.
The Mets added three runs in the eighth, when pinch-hitter Curtis Granderson -- batting for Harvey -- drew a bases-loaded walk before centerfielder Juan Lagares hit a two-run double,
Lagares finished 3-for-4. Cuddyer was 2-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base while second baseman Wilmer Flores had two hits.
Rusin allowed the one run on eight hits and one walk (intentional) while striking out five. He allowed 14 runs (13 earned) over 15 innings in his three previous starts.
NOTES: The game started on time at 7:11 despite intermittent day-long rains. ... Mets 1B Lucas Duda sat out with a sore back and RF Curtis Granderson got the night off against Rockies LHP Chris Rusin. New York's lineup featured LF Michael Cuddyer in right field for the first time this season and INF Daniel Murphy at first base for the second time. ... Mets 3B David Wright (spinal stenosis) was scheduled to play third base Tuesday for Class A St. Lucie. ... Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (right elbow) threw three innings in a simulated game. He is scheduled to make a rehab start on Sunday. ... Rockies manager Walt Weiss, who grew up 40 miles north of Citi Field in Suffern, N.Y., visited with friends and family -- including his father -- in the dugout before the game.