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Matz fans 10, Alonso hits 21st HR as Mets beat Rockies 5-3

Colorado and New York will close out their series on Sunday afternoon.
Credit: AP Photo/Bill Kostroun
New York Mets pitcher Steven Matz delivers to the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 8, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Steven Matz struck out 10, Pete Alonso moved closer to the Mets' rookie home run record and New York beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Saturday night.

Matz (5-4) threw 120 pitches, matching his career high, in six innings. He gave up two earned runs on six hits and two walks.

The Rockies stranded seven runners against Matz, who struck out Charlie Blackmon to leave runners at the corners in the sixth.

Amed Rosario put Matz in line to earn the win in the bottom of the inning when he hit into a run-scoring double play to snap a 3-3 tie.

Alonso led off the seventh with his 21st home run - it came with some drama, too.

Alonso's drive was just beyond the glove of left fielder David Dahl and off the orange line atop the fence. The ball bounced back onto the field, Alonso kept running and he slid into third.

But an umpire crew review showed it was indeed a home run. Alonso moved within five of matching Darryl Strawberry's rookie record.

Seth Lugo retired all six batters he faced and Edwin Diaz notched his 14th save with a one-hit ninth.

Carlos Gomez put the Mets ahead with a two-run homer in the second and Todd Frazier had an RBI single in the third.

The Rockies tied the game twice. In the second, Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado each delivered RBI singles. In the fourth, Brendan Rodgers singled with one out, went to third on Tony Wolters' single and scored when Frazier's throw to second to try to get Wolters sailed into right field.

Jon Gray (5-5) allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out eight over 5 2/3 innings.

FRIDAY NIGHT CARRY-OVER?

The second inning contained a pair of curious moments that may or may not have been carryover from Friday night's eighth-inning fireworks, when the benches emptied twice but no punches were thrown after Mets RHP Drew Gagnon plunked Rockies CF Ian Desmond in the back immediately after Daniel Murphy hit a two-run homer.

In the top of the second, Matz brushed back Murphy with a pitch so high and inside that Murphy's helmet fell off as he backpedaled about halfway to first base. Murphy is hitting .376 with 12 homers and 44 RBIs against the Mets since he left his former club.

Gray's first pitch in the bottom half of the frame was a 78 mph curveball that hit Frazier in the shoulder. Frazier jogged to first base without incident.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: Blackmon (right calf), who was activated from the 10-day IL Friday but did not play, went 1 for 4 in his first appearance since May 23.

Mets: 2B Robinson Cano (left quad) missed a third straight game but the Mets remain hopeful he can avoid the IL for the second time this season. Cano was sidelined from May 23 through Tuesday and aggravated the injury following his second at-bat Wednesday. . LHP Justin Wilson (left elbow) felt good during a 20-pitch batting practice session and is expected to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Jeff Hoffman (1-2, 7.29 ERA) will make his second career start in his home state. Hoffman was born and raised in Latham, New York, near Albany. He tossed six innings and earned the win over the Mets in the Rockies' 13-4 victory on July 16, 2017.

Mets: RHP Noah Syndergaard (3-4, 4.83 ERA) will make his 100th career start. Syndergaard has allowed fewer than three runs just four times in 13 starts this year.

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