Mets 14, Rockies 9
DENVER -- For the second straight game, the New York Mets tore into Colorado's starting pitcher and walloped the Rockies 14-9 on Saturday night.
But unlike Friday, the Mets didn't have to squirm as their six-run lead vanished before pulling away to win by the same score. They met with considerably less resistance while winning their 10th straight game against the Rockies and sixth this season.
The victory enabled the Mets, who are 13-6 this month, to maintain their five-game lead over Washington in the National League East. The Rockies have lost 10 of their past 12 games, leaving them 6-14 this month.
Every member of the Mets' starting lineup had a least one hit as they piled up a season-high tying 21 hits. That output included nine doubles and a home run.
Among the starters, first baseman Michael Cuddyer was the only one without an RBI and center fielder Yoenis Cespedes was the only one who didn't score.
The Mets knocked out starter Jon Gray in 1 2/3 innings Friday, pounding him for eight hits and seven runs, and strafed Chris Rusin, who threw a complete-game shutout in his last start Sunday.
Rusin (4-6) gave up eight doubles, the most any Rockies pitcher has allowed, a home run and set dubious career-highs in hits (12) and runs (11) allowed. He left after failing to retire any of the eight batters he faced in New York's eight-run third that made it 11-3.
Rusin is the second pitcher in the past 70 seasons to throw a complete-game shutout and allow 11 earned runs in the next start, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Pat Hentgen went through that high-to-low plummet with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1997.
Rusin became the fifth Rockies starter to allow 11 or more earned runs and first since Jeff Fassero in 2004.
Third baseman Juan Uribe led off the big third inning with his 13th homer overall and fifth with the Mets. Other run-scoring hits included catcher Travis d'Arnaud's double, pitcher Jonathon Niese's two-run single, center fielder Juan Lagares' single and right fielder Curtis Granderson's two-run double.
The Rockies drove Niese from the game after 5 1/3 innings. After pinch hitter Brandon Barnes singled home a run, center fielder Charlie Blackmon hit his 14th homer to finish Niese (8-9), who gave up a season-high tying 11 hits and seven runs.
Eric O'Flaherty came on, and shortstop Jose Reyes greeted him with his second homer with the Rockies and sixth overall this season to cut the Mets' lead to 14-8.
The teams had traded three-run innings in the second before the Mets exploded in the third. Their doubles barrage against Rusin began with four in the second that netted three runs. The first three came in succession to start the inning by second baseman Wilmer Flores, d'Arnaud and shortstop Ruben Tejada. After pitcher Niese struck out, Lagares doubled.
In their half of the second, the Rockies evened the game with three runs on one swing when left fielder Kyle Parker lined a first-pitch, bases-loaded triple over Lagares' outstretched glove with one out. It was Parker's first career triple. He doubled home a run in the seventh to give him a career-high four RBIs.
NOTES: Mets LHP Dario Alvarez was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas. He's 3-1 with a 2.75 ERA in 42 games between Las Vegas and Double-A Binghamton. ... Mets 1B Lucas Duda was placed on the 15-day disabled list one day after his back locked up and he was forced to leave the game after the seventh. Duda had missed six starts with a lower back strain before returning Tuesday. ... The Mets reacquired OF Eric Young Jr. from the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations. They will send him to Triple-A Las Vegas, but he is expected to join the Mets when the rosters expand next month. ... Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (right elbow inflammation) will rejoin the rotation next week. Bettis has made two rehab starts, the last a 67-pitch outing Thursday for Triple-A Albuquerque. ... Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood will throw 25 pitches Sunday in his third simulated game as he continues to come back from his second Tommy John surgery, in July 2014. ... Rockies RHP Kyle Kendrick (right shoulder inflammation) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Friday and is scheduled to throw 45 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday at Atlanta before the Rockies-Braves game.