Mets 15, Dodgers 2
NEW YORK - Rookie left fielder Michael Conforto and center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis had hits in their first four at-bats as the New York Mets totaled a season-high 21 hits in a 15-2 rout of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night.
After going 0-for-3 with an RBI groundout in his major-league debut Friday, Conforto displayed the swing the Mets have constantly gushed about since drafting him in the first round last year. He began his big night with an RBI infield single during a four-run first inning off right-hander Zach Lee (0-1), added doubles in the third and fifth before singling in the sixth.
Nieuwenhuis began the game with a .167 average but when his second career four-hit game ended it was up to .214. Nieuwenhuis started his productive night with a two-run single in the first, added an RBI double in the third and a run-scoring double in the fifth before getting an RBI single in New York' s five-run sixth.
New York had at least 20 hits for the first time since recording 20 at Atlanta Sept. 16, 2011.
The Mets hit four home runs as second baseman Kelly Johnson and third baseman Daniel Murphy connected before first baseman Lucas Duda hit solo home runs in consecutive at-bats.
New York went 9-for-16 with runners in scoring position as every starter reached base at least once and seven players had multi-hit games.
That included right-hander Matt Harvey (9-7), who drove in two runs for the third straight start. Besides getting an RBI double and run-scoring single in consecutive at-bats, Harvey allowed solo home runs to shortstop Jimmy Rollins and center fielder Joc Pederson among six hits in seven innings.
Besides scoring their most runs since getting 16 at Minnesota April 12, 2013, the Mets scored twice without even making contact. Nieuwenhuis scored the final run of the sixth when right fielder Curtis Granderson struck out and reached on a wild pitch and in the seventh pinch hitter Eric Campbell drew a bases-loaded walk.
Lee became the Dodgers' 14th different starting pitcher of the season after being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City before the game. In his major-league debut, he lasted 4 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs and 11 hits, marking the first time in 30 games a Los Angeles starter allowed more than four earned runs.
Los Angeles fell to 5-4 on its 10-game trip that concludes with right-hander Zack Greinke returning from paternity leave Sunday. The Dodgers allowed season highs in runs and hits and also allowed their most runs ever against the Mets.
After being outscored 17-2 in the first two games of the series, the Mets sent eight batters to the plate and scored four times in the first inning against Lee.
Murphy made it 1-0 with a single to center field and the Mets loaded the bases on Johnson's first hit with the team. Conforto made it 2-0 by beating out an infield single on a ball that deflected off Lee's glove.
New York scored two more when Nieuwenhuis hit a ground ball on a check swing that went under third baseman Justin Turner's glove into left field.
After making a running catch on Lee and throwing out Pederson attempting to stretch a single into a double, Nieuwenhuis made it 5-0 with a two-out single.
The teams traded solo home runs in the fifth. Rollins ended Harvey's shutout bid with his 11th home run of the season and Johnson extended New York's lead to 6-1 with a drive that landed in the second deck in right field.
After Johnson's home run, the Mets scored two more runs on doubles by Nieuwenhuis and Harvey. Nieuwenhuis gave the Mets a six-run lead with a double off Chin-hui Tsao.
NOTES: Because the Mets believe the acquisition of INFs Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe gives them more options, manager Terry Collins said INFs Wilmer Flores and Daniel Murphy will take ground balls at shortstop and second base respectively. Collins also stressed that playing time is based on performance, which he also reiterated to the team privately. ... Los Angeles 1B Adrian Gonzalez was out of the original lineup due to neck stiffness but after getting through batting practice, he wound up starting. ... New York GM Sandy Alderson addressed the media for a third straight day and asked if there are more trades, he said: "We continue to look at all the possibilities and how those different possibilities would fit right now. ... Los Angeles LHP Ian Thomas was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City after allowing a run and three hits over five innings Friday.