Colon Beats Baltimore Once Again, Mets Snap Shutout String
NEW YORK (AP) -- Bartolo Colon became the first pitcher in at least 100 years to beat the same opponent with seven different teams, stopping Baltimore once again and leading the New York Mets past the Orioles 3-2 Tuesday night.
Colon (5-1) took a shutout into the eighth inning before Manny Machado hit a solo home run with one out. The Mets won after getting blanked 1-0 in their previous two games.
New York ended its scoreless streak at 21 innings when Daniel Murphy hit an RBI single in a three-run fourth, and won for just the second time in seven games.
Baltimore began its weeklong visit to Citi Field and Yankee Stadium with its second loss in seven games. The Orioles have lost seven in a row to the Mets overall.
Three weeks shy of his 42nd birthday, Colon struck out nine, walked none and gave up six hits in 7 2-3 innings. Jeurys Familia closed for his major league-leading 11th save in as many chances, giving up Chris Davis' sixth homer on his first pitch.
Colon improved to 13-8 vs. the Orioles. He first beat them in 1999 when Cal Ripken was their face of the franchise -- Colon started off this game by striking out 22-year-old star Machado on three pitches.
Colon has defeated the O's while pitching for Cleveland, the White Sox, the Angels, Boston, the Yankees, Oakland and now the Mets.
STATS said its research dating to 1914 shows no other pitcher who has topped the same opponent with seven different clubs. Dan Haren, David Wells and spitballer Burleigh Grimes were among the seven to beat a team six ways.
Bud Norris (1-3) gave up all three runs in the fourth. Lucas Duda doubled and scored on a single by Murphy. Wilmer Flores doubled and rookie Kevin Plawecki hit a two-run double.
Both Gold Glove center fielders made stellar plays in the fifth.
Juan Lagares robbed Everth Cabrera with a tumbling, backhanded grab in the alley in the top half. Left fielder Michael Cuddyer appeared to nick Lagares as he tried to step over him while getting out of the way.
Adam Jones raced into the left-center gap for Duda's drive in the bottom half.
The Mets wore NYPD hats and held a moment of silence before the game to honor a police officer who died this week after being shot while on duty. Officer Brian Moore's picture was shown on the scoreboard and flags flew at half-staff.
Moore liked the Orioles, and manager Buck Showalter said the officer's favorite player was Davis. The slugger signed a ball and Showalter said the team would autograph an Orioles home jersey for the family.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: All-purpose player Steve Pearce was out of the lineup with a stomach bug. ... C Matt Wieters (elbow) caught six innings at extended spring training. The Orioles want to see him play consecutive games.
Mets: 3B David Wright (hamstring) could play in a minor league game this weekend, manager Terry Collins said. ... Former closer Bobby Parnell (Tommy John surgery) will throw at Citi Field this week so pitching coach Dan Warthen can check his mechanics.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (2-1, 1.59 ERA) hasn't permitted an earned run in three of his four starts this season.
Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (2-3, 3.34) has been hit hard his last two starts. Travis Snider is the only Baltimore player to have batted against him.
(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
