Ryan McMahon turned a small adjustment into a big return for the Colorado Rockies.
McMahon tweaked his swing early in the afternoon and then hit a go-ahead Youth Calvin Ridley Jersey , three-run homer to help rally the Rockies past the New York Mets 10-8 on Wednesday night.
Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon also went deep, and Colorado’s struggling bullpen shut the door in the late innings.
”You need a bullpen to do what ours did tonight from the sixth on – put up zeros,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. ”That’s the expectation, and that’s their expectation.”
Colorado trailed 8-6 when McMahon pinch-hit with two on and two outs in the fifth. He sent a 1-0 changeup from reliever Robert Gsellman into the Rockies’ bullpen to give Colorado the lead.
It was McMahon’s second homer of the season and it came just hours after he worked with hitting coach Duane Espy in the batting cage.
”I made a small adjustment today with my hands, just put them in a better position to get that shorter swing off, that flatter swing off,” McMahon said. ”Stood the bat up a little more and got instant results.
”It’s been a long time coming and it felt really good to come through for the guys.”
Gsellman (5-2) had given up just one home run in 16 road games prior to Wednesday.
”A changeup right down the middle and the hitter just did his job and hit it out of the ballpark,” he said. ”Got to execute the pitch.”
Bryan Shaw (3-5) got one out to earn the win. Wade Davis pitched the ninth for his 21st save this season – and the 100th of his career.
New York took an 8-6 lead with a four-run fifth. The Mets batted around for the second time in the game and benefited from three walks in the inning, including one to Brandon Nimmo with the bases loaded.
Dominic Smith, who tripled in the fifth, had a career-high three hits for New York and was a home run short of the cycle.
The Mets loaded the bases in the sixth against lefty Harrison Musgrave but pinch-hitter Kevin Plawecki grounded into an inning-ending double play to Arenado at third.
”The sixth got a little dicey, but zeros nevertheless,” Black said. ”That’s how you win games.”
Neither starter lasted long in another high-scoring game at Coors Field. The Mets scored three in the first and another in the second to take a 4-1 lead Youth Hayden Hurst Jersey , but Colorado tied it with three unearned runs in the second.
The Rockies went ahead 6-4 in the third on RBI singles by Gerardo Parra and Tom Murphy.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: RHP A.J. Ramos had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. … Mets manager Mickey Callaway said the results of OF Jay Bruce’s MRI revealed a right hip strain and the team will decide on a plan soon. … RHP Noah Syndergaard (strained ligament in right index finger) threw before batting practice.
Rockies: LHP Mike Dunn (rhomboid strain) threw live batting practice and said he had no ill effects. Dunn said he threw about 20 pitches. If he feels good Thursday, Black said Dunn could go on a rehab assignment this weekend. … RHP Scott Oberg (back strain) could also go on a rehab assignment, Black said.
INJURY SCARE
New York second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera was holding his left arm after tagging out Murphy on a steal attempt in the seventh inning. The trainer checked him over but Cabrera was able to stay in the game.
”He just landed hard on his left elbow,” Callaway said.
HOME INVASION
The Rockies have allowed eight or more runs in their last nine home games, which ties for the longest streak in big league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The 1894 St. Louis Browns were the last team to do it.
ROSTER MOVE
Before the game, the Mets recalled RHP Chris Flexen from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned RHP Hansel Robles to their top farm team.
UP NEXT
In a matchup of left-handers, the Mets will send Steven Matz (3-4, 3.31 ERA) to the mound against Colorado hometown favorite Kyle Freeland (6-6, 3.59) in the finale of the four-game series Thursday afternoon.
—
Another day, another Cincinnati grand slam.
Jose Peraza kept up the parade of slams, sending Matt Harvey and the Reds over the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers 8-2 Sunday.
Peraza connected in the sixth inning for the Reds’ major league-leading ninth slam this year, tying the single-season franchise record set in 2002. It was Cincinnati’s second in two games and third in the last eight – pitcher Mike Lorenzen had a pinch-hit slam Saturday Baker Mayfield Jersey Elite , and pitcher Anthony DeSclafani went deep with the bases loaded on June 24 against the Cubs.
”I just tried to hit the ball,” the shortstop said. ”When I hit the ball in the sky, I say, `Wow, it’s a home run.’ Everybody is happy.”
Peraza hit his first career slam, tagging reliever Aaron Wilkerson.
Eight different Reds have hit grand slams. Adam Duvall is the only player with two.
The last-place Reds have won 11 of 14, and the last eight of 11 against teams that were in first place when their series started.
”We know we can play with these guys (division leaders),” manager Jim Riggleman said. ”We’ve got to go through those guys and win our share.”
Harvey (4-5) allowed two hits in 5 2/3 innings and won his third straight start as the Reds salvaged a split of the four-game series. Ryan Braun’s two-run homer in the ninth allowed the Brewers to avoid their 11th shutout loss of the season.
Joey Votto, National League RBI leader Eugenio Suarez and Scott Schebler had consecutive run-scoring singles in the first inning against previously unbeaten rookie Freddy Peralta (3-1).
Harvey, acquired in May from the Mets, struck out six and walked none. The right-hander didn’t return after a 54-minute rain delay.
”It was one of those when you come in and try to do as much as you can,” Harvey said. ”You come in and put a heat pack on, but once it creeps up to an hour … That’s the best I’ve felt in a long time. I could smell the CG (complete game) coming or at least getting deep in the game. I was pretty much in control the whole time Browns Baker Mayfield Jersey , but I’m happy about the outing and another Reds win.”
Pitching in a gametime temperature of 93 humid degrees, Harvey retired the first 12 batters before Travis Shaw outflanked a defensive shift with an opposite-field single to left leading off the fifth.
Cincinnati’s first six batters reached base against Peralta, who’d allowed just a .093 opponents’ batting average (7 for 75) in his first four starts, all Milwaukee wins. He recovered from throwing 43 pitches in the first inning to retire the last 10 and 15 of the last 16 batters he faced.
”It started out rough,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. ”He righted it. It was cool to see him right it. That’s a lesson that you’ve got to get it going right away or a big league team will take advantage of it. I thought he handled it very well.”
CHANGE OF SCENERY
The Brewers optioned .197-hitting SS Orlando Arcia to Triple-A Colorado Springs before the game. ”He’s been a good major league hitter,” Counsell said. ”He’s been a dominant minor league hitter. We’re confident he will get things going again.”
MOVING UP
Votto’s two hits pushed him past Hall of Famer Frank Robinson into ninth place on the Reds’ career hits list with 1,674. Brandon Phillips is eighth with 1,774 hits.
LAST MINUTE
Braun’s ninth-inning homer gave the Brewers at least one in each of their last 19 games at Great American Ball Park, the longest streak by any team, including the Reds.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: OF Christian Yelich took some swings before Sunday’s game, the third he’d missed since leaving Thursday’s game with a tight lower back.
UP NEXT
Brewers: LHP Brent Suter (8-5) is 6-2 with a 3.50 ERA over his last eight starts.
Reds: RHP Luis Castillo (5-8) didn’t allow a home run in his last start, but he still leads NL pitchers in homers allowed with 18.