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Syndergaard Ks 11, Conforto homers as Mets sweep Brewers

May 22, 2016 - 10:58 PM NEW YORK (AP) Of all the young aces in the New York Mets' rotation, nobody has been more dominant than Noah Syndergaard.

Reliable when they really need him, too.

Syndergaard struck out 11 in seven overpowering innings and Michael Conforto homered to help the Mets beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

''The guy just bears down,'' New York captain David Wright said. ''He's making himself into - even when he doesn't have his best stuff - one of the best in the game.''

Asdrubal Cabrera broke a fourth-inning tie with a two-run single that sent the Mets to their 12th victory in the last 16 home games.

Next up, they visit NL East rival Washington after the Nationals took two of three at Citi Field last week.

''We've got a chance to redeem ourselves,'' Wright said.

Conforto connected early for a long homer off Chase Anderson. The second-year outfielder, who shares a two-bedroom apartment with Syndergaard on Manhattan's Upper East Side, also went deep in Syndergaard's 2-0 win over Washington last week.

''I've got to do it for the roommate, I guess,'' Conforto said.

Anderson (2-6) took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning of his previous outing against the Chicago Cubs and came within one out of a shutout. This time, he lasted five innings and was hurt by Ryan Braun's misplay in left field while losing for the sixth time in seven starts.

Back in the lineup after missing four games with a stiff back, Braun singled once in four at-bats. He also let Yoenis Cespedes' shallow looper bounce past him in the fourth for a double that put runners at second and third.

''I think I was kind of caught in-between sliding, diving. I actually thought I got a decent jump, just kind of in no man's land,'' Braun said.

One out later, Cabrera put New York ahead.

The 23-year-old Syndergaard (5-2) yielded six singles and an unearned run that followed Wright's first-inning error at third base. He threw a season-high 109 pitches and won his third straight start, saving a taxed relief corps.

''We need an outing today. Our bullpen's tired,'' manager Terry Collins said before the game. ''He's got to step it up and I know he will.''

The big right-hander, who beat Milwaukee at home last May for his first major league win, mixed his 98-99 mph fastballs with effective off-speed stuff. He has gone 18 innings without issuing a walk.

''That's about as big of a challenge as it gets in today's game,'' Braun said. ''His pure stuff is probably the best of any starter in baseball. Unbelievable command of all three off-speed pitches. Fastballs to both sides of the plate. He's really, really good.''

Syndergaard escaped a jam in the seventh after the Brewers ran into a costly out on the bases for the second straight day.

Jim Henderson tossed a scoreless eighth against his former team before Jeurys Familia, perfect in 15 save chances, got Alex Presley to ground into a game-ending double play.

Familia has converted 31 regular-season save opportunities in a row dating to Aug. 1. He had two saves and a win in the series as the Mets came from behind in each game and completed their first three-game sweep of the Brewers since September 2008 in Milwaukee. It was New York's first home sweep of the Brewers since April 2002 at Shea Stadium.

Jonathan Lucroy had an RBI single in the first for the Brewers, and Hernan Perez got three hits.

''First inning, I almost felt a little too strong out there,'' Syndergaard said. ''I relaxed a little bit and calmed down.''

ELITE COMPANY

Syndergaard joined Nolan Ryan, Jose Fernandez and Clayton Kershaw (three in a row) as the only pitchers since 1913 to have consecutive double-digit strikeout games without allowing a walk or an earned run. Dwight Gooden (September 1984) is the only other Mets pitcher to reach double digits in strikeouts with no walks in back-to-back games.

EARLY POWER

Four of Conforto's eight home runs this season have come in the first inning. ''Instant offense,'' Wright said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Brewers: LHP Will Smith (sprained right knee) is ready for a minor league rehab assignment. ... 1B Chris Carter was rested in favor of Ramon Flores. Normally an outfielder, he made his first major league appearance at first base.

Mets: 1B Lucas Duda (back) missed his second straight game and fourth in the past six. He was examined by a doctor for the second consecutive day and his tests will be re-evaluated by Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek on Monday. That's when the team expects a diagnosis. ''I'm really concerned that this is going to keep this guy out for a while,'' Collins said. It certainly sounds as though Duda is headed to the disabled list, at least. ''Hopefully, we can hold down the fort while he's gone,'' Wright said. ''Certainly we're going to miss him.'' ... Setup man Addison Reed and reliever Hansel Robles were unavailable due to heavy workloads of late.

UP NEXT

Brewers: Milwaukee begins a three-game series at last-place Atlanta on Tuesday night with RHP Jimmy Nelson (4-3, 3.07 ERA) facing RHP Julio Teheran (1-4, 2.73).

Mets: On the eve of his 43rd birthday, Bartolo Colon (3-3, 3.75 ERA) starts Monday night in the series opener at Washington. On the mound for the Nationals is Mets nemesis Gio Gonzalez (3-1, 1.86), who beat Colon last week at Citi Field.