Davies powers Brewers to series split with Mets
MILWAUKEE -- Zach Davies won his fourth consecutive decision and struck out seven as the Milwaukee Brewers salvaged a series split with a 5-3 win over the New York Mets on Sunday afternoon at Miller Park.
Keon Broxton and Scooter Gennett had two hits each for Milwaukee, which produced nine hits off Mets left-hander Steven Matz (7-3), who surrendered five runs while striking out five over six innings.
Davies (5-3) came into his 11th start of the season riding high; since starting the season 0-3 with an 8.78 ERA, he'd gone 4-0 with 2.91 mark in his last seven and carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning his last time out.
Davies maintained that form Sunday, holding the Mets to one unearned run on three hits and a walk over six innings.
Davies loaded the bases with one out in the first inning but stranded the runners by retiring James Loney and Wilmer Flores.
New York wouldn't put another runner on base until the seventh, when Kelly Johnson led off with a double and moved to third on Loney's single.
Blaine Boyer took over from there and Flores kept the inning going, reaching on an error by first baseman Chris Carter. New York broke the shutout when Johnson scored as Alejandro De Aza reached on a fielder's choice before Boyer ended the inning with Kevin Plawecki's fly out to left.
The Mets added two more in the eighth against left-hander Carlos Torres, but Brewers closer Jeremy Jeffress worked around a one-out single by Plawecki to earn his 18th save of the season.
NOTES: Mets assistant general manager John Ricco announced prior to the game that manager Terry Collins was not feeling well. Collins was examined by team doctors and was taken to a Milwaukee-area hospital for further examination. Ricco said the exam was precautionary in nature and that bench coach Dick Scott would handle Collins' duties Sunday against the Brewers. ... New York optioned RHP Logan Verrett to Triple-A Las Vegas Sunday morning and recalled RHP Erik Goeddel, who was in uniform and with the team in Milwaukee. ... The Brewers announced that RHP Matt Garza would be activated from the disabled list and start Tuesday at San Francisco. Garza had yet to pitch this season because of a strained right lat suffered in his final exhibition start. To clear room for Garza on the active roster, Milwaukee optioned struggling RHP Wily Peralta to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Peralta, Milwaukee's Opening Day starter, was 3-7 with a 6.79 ERA in 13 starts this season.