Hernandez's 12th-inning blast lifts D-backs past Mets
NEW YORK -- Oscar Hernandez hit his first major league home run leading off the 12th inning Wednesday night, and the Arizona Diamondbacks edged the New York Mets 3-2 at Citi Field.
The Diamondbacks (47-66) have won three straight and four of five.
The Mets (57-56) have lost four of five and are 10-18 since July 8 but remain just 2 1/2 games behind the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the second National League wild card.
Hernandez, who was recalled from Double-A Mobile on Tuesday to replace starting catcher Welington Castillo (paternity leave), was hitless in his first four at-bats before homering down the left field line against left-hander Jerry Blevins (4-2).
Randall Delgado (3-1), the Diamondbacks' seventh pitcher, earned the win with two perfect innings.
Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray was in line for the win after allowing three hits and no walks while striking out four over seven shutout innings, but the Mets tied the game in the ninth on pinch hitter Kelly Johnson's two-run homer off closer Jake Barrett.
Jean Segura went 3-for-5 with a walk and two stolen bases while scoring the Diamondbacks' first two runs. Paul Goldschmidt went 2-for-4 and drove home Segura both times.
In the third, Segura singled with one out, stole second, took third when the throw by catcher Travis d'Arnaud sailed into center field and trotted home on Goldschmidt's two-out single.
Segura and Goldschmidt teamed up again in the eighth, when Segura led off with a double, advanced to third on a bunt by Michael Bourn and scored on Goldschmidt's sacrifice fly.
Mets right-hander Bartolo Colon allowed one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out a season-high eight over seven innings. The 43-year-old Colon was trying to become the 18th pitcher to beat all 30 major league clubs. The Diamondbacks began play in 1998, Colon's second season in the bigs.
NOTES: A spate of afternoon showers delayed first pitch by 20 minutes. ... The Mets selected the contract of INF T.J. Rivera from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned OF Brandon Nimmo to the same affiliate. Rivera, a native of the Bronx, made his major league debut by batting sixth and playing third base. To make room for Rivera on the 40-man roster, the Mets shifted 1B Lucas Duda (back) to the 60-day disabled list. ... Mets 3B Jose Reyes (oblique) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Class A Brooklyn on Thursday. ... Diamondbacks OF Yasmany Tomas (stiff neck) was out of the lineup for the second straight game. ... Diamondbacks LHP Andrew Chafin (left shoulder) threw a scoreless inning Tuesday in his fourth rehab appearance for Class A Visalia.