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Murphy lifts Mets to 11th straight win

Apr 23, 2015 - 10:59 PM Flushing, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Daniel Murphy broke out of his season- starting slide, finishing 2-for-3 with four RBI to lead the New York Mets to their franchise record-tying 11th straight win, 6-3, over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday afternoon.

Curtis Granderson added a hit and two runs scored for the Mets, who swept this three-game set from the Braves to finish off the franchise's first perfect 10- game homestand.

"It's a huge accomplishment," said New York manager Terry Collins on the perfect homestand. "It's hard to do against the talent in the big leagues."

Michael Cuddyer also scored a pair of runs for New York, which started their current streak two Sundays ago against the Braves in Atlanta.

Murphy entered the game with just seven hits in his first 50 at-bats this season and sends the Mets into their first of two meetings against their cross-town rival Yankees on Friday on a historic winning streak.

"He came in really, really struggling," said Collins of Murphy. "Hopefully he broke out of it."

The franchise has won 11 straight only four other times, last accomplishing the feat June 17-29, 1990.

"We're going to enjoy it tonight, but we have a tough road trip ahead of us going across town," added Collins.

Mets starting pitcher Bartolo Colon (4-0), the hurler who began the winning streak, battled through six innings to earn his fourth straight win to start the season. The right-hander, pitching with a blister on his throwing hand, scattered seven hits and allowed three runs, striking out five without walking a batter.

The Braves pitchers can blame their woes on their failure finding the strike zone. Atlanta's five pitchers issued a combined eight walks, led by starter Julio Teheran (2-1). The right-hander walked five over 4 1/3 innings and was charged with four runs on just three hits, striking out five.

"They have a pretty good combination going right now," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. "Their starters don't give up walks. They throw strikes. Their run differential is unbelievable."

The Mets got going in the first inning thanks to Teheran's wildness and timely hitting from Murphy. After Teheran loaded the bases with three walks, Murphy cleared the bags with a double to the right field wall.

Atlanta got a run back in the second when a play at the plate initially had A.J. Pierzynski out to end the inning, but upon review the runner was ruled safe because Mets' catcher Anthony Recker blocked the plate before the ball arrived. Pierzynski had earlier singled and came around for the play at the plate on Andrelton Simmons' double.

Colon responded by stranding Simmons on third by striking out Jace Peterson to end the frame.

In the fourth, Murphy's poor decision making in the field cost the Mets the lead. With runners on the corners, Murphy, playing at double-play depth, decided to throw home instead of potentially getting two outs and conceding the run. Atlanta's Nick Markakis, who was at third, halted and went back to the bag on the throw, loading the bases with no outs.

Atlanta cashed in as Simmons singled home a run and Peterson lifted a sac fly to tie the game at 3-3.

New York again went ahead in the fifth as Eric Campbell worked a two-out bases-loaded walk against Braves reliever Sugar Ray Marimon to force home Granderson with the go-ahead run.

Granderson started the frame with a base hit against Teheran and stole second. One out later, Teheran was lifted for reliever Ian Thomas, who walked Lucas Duda and Cuddyer before striking out Murphy for the second out. Marimon then came on and issued the go-ahead walk before getting Wilmer Flores to ground out to end the inning.

New York two more runs in the seventh when Juan Lagares scored on a fielder's choice ground out by Cuddyer, who later scored on a Murphy base hit.

Jeurys Familia worked the ninth to earn his eighth save of the season.

Simmons ended 2-for-3 with two RBI and Pierzynski had two hits for the Braves, who were last swept by the Mets in New York April 5-8, 2012.

Game Notes

The 13-3 record ties the '86 Mets for the best start through 16 games in franchise history ... This is the first time Colon has started a season 4-0 through four starts ... Atlanta's Eric Young Jr. led off the game with a drag bunt attempt that actually ended up being a line-drive hit into right field ... This was Murphy's first multi-hit game of the season ... Lagares went 1- for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.