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 Gee worked into the seventh, a welcome change for the Mets, whose
starters had worked at least five innings in 26 games before coming
here but combined to pitch just 13 innings in the first three games
of this series.
Gee extended his scoreless streak to a career-high 16 innings and
pitched at least six innings for the 23rd time in his past 24
starts.
"Considering our starters had pitched so well and had so much
trouble here, for him to go out there and go six gave our bullpen a
little bit of a break," Mets third baseman David Wright said. "And
anytime you can hold that lineup in this ballpark to no runs over
six, you're doing something right."
Gee left after giving consecutive singles to catcher Mike McKenry
and center fielder Corey Dickerson to start the seventh. Carlos
Torres got second baseman DJ LeMahieu to ground out, moving up the
runners, and struck out pinch hitter Drew Stubbs. Left-hander Scott
Rice then retired right fielder Charlie Blackmon on a fly to short
center.
The Rockies entered the game with an 11-4 record at Coors Field
where they were averaging 7.8 runs per game. They went hitless in
six at-bats with runners in scoring position against Gee, who is 3-1
with an 0.67 ERA in his last four starts.
Gee was asked whether this is as well as he has pitched all year,
considering the lineup he faced.
"Results-wise I guess so," he said. "But I definitely felt better. I
think I've had better stuff than I had today. It's like that play I
catch behind my back. You got to have things like that happen for an
outing like this, really."
Gee, who said he is never in good defensive position when he
delivers a pitch, was referring to a play that ended the second when
he reached behind him to snare a hard bouncer hit by LeMahieu.
One of the six hits Gee allowed was fourth-inning double to third
baseman Nolan Arenado. The hit extended his hitting streak to 24
games, three short of Michael Cuddyer's franchise-record 27-game
streak last season. Arenado flied out each of his other two at-bats
against Gee.
"He doesn't overpower you with stuff," Arenado said, "but it almost
seems like the way he throws a pitch up, it looks like a good pitch
to hit but it's not a good pitch to swing at. Then you foul it up or
pop it up."
Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin made his 2014 debut after suffering a
right shoulder strain in spring training and understandably was not
sharp. He gave up four runs in five innings on eight hits and four
walks, one intentional.
"It's never easy here" Chacin said. "You have to throw strikes, keep
the ball down and make them hit a groundball. That's my game. Today,
I didn't get a lot of ground balls. Today wasn't my game and wasn't
my day."
Chacin gave up back-to-back two-out doubles in the fourth to Juan
Lagares and David Murphy that gave the Mets a 4-0 lead. They scored
twice in third on doubles by Wright and Chris Young.
Chacin issued three walks, one intentional in the inning, but
escaped more trouble when he got catcher Travis d'Arnaud to ground
into an inning-ending double play.
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Legares and Murphy led off the game with singles, and Lagares scored
on a one-out single by right fielder Curtis Granderson.
The Mets made it 5-0 in the seventh when Tommy Kahnle walked Young
with one out, and first baseman Lucas Duda followed with a
run-scoring double in the gap in left-center.
The Rockies avoided being shutout for the first time this season
when first baseman Justin Morneau led off the ninth with a home run,
his seventh of the season, against Jeurys Familia.
Gee avoided any serious trouble. He walked No. 8 hitter LeMahieu
with one out in the fifth and gave up a single to pinch hitter
Brandon Barnes. But Blackmon grounded into a fielder's choice, and
Gee stranded runners at first and third by getting shortstop Charlie
Culberson to ground out.
Gee gave up a one-out double in the first to Culberson but got left
fielder Carlos Gonzalez to ground out and Arenado to fly out.
Gee has thrown back-to-back scoreless starts for the first time in
his career and gave the Mets a much-needed outing as they headed
toward Miami, the final stop on their three-city road trip, where
the Marlins are 14-5 at home.
"We're happy to take the one and get out of here," Mets manager
Terry Collins said. "We can't look back. We're playing the Marlins
who have the best home record in baseball so we got a big task ahead
just the next three days."
NOTES: Rockies RHP Jhoulys Chacin (right shoulder strain) was
activated and a roster spot was opened by placing C Wilin Rosario on
the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Saturday with a viral
infection that has become an issue for the Rockies. Two days ago,
INF Josh Rutledge went on the disabled list with the same ailment.
... Mets LF Eric Young Jr. was scratched from the lineup after
suffering a freak injury. Lucas Duda was hitting in the indoor cage
when a ball hit the screen, ricocheted and struck Young below the
right eye. He was taken to a hospital for a CAT scan on his left
cheekbone that proved negative and is listed day-to-day with a left
cheekbone contusion. ... Mets CF Juan Lagares replaced Young in the
lineup and singled in the first to extend his hitting streak to a
career-high 13 games. ... Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki was given a
scheduled day off. ... Rockies C McKenry made his 2014 debut, one
day after being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs.
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