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 Right-hander Noah Syndergaard struck out 11 and allowed an
unearned run over seven strong innings as the Mets completed a
three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers with a 3-1 win at Citi
Field.
Syndergaard, Friday's starter Steven Matz and Saturday's starter
Jacob deGrom combined to allow seven runs (six earned) while
striking out 26 and walking just three over 19 innings in the
weekend series, which came immediately after Bartolo Colon and Matt
Harvey allowed 12 runs (nine earned) over 7 1/3 innings in losses to
the Washington Nationals Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
"Matt didn't get us deep in the game, Bartolo didn't get us deep in
the game," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We said last night this
kid's got to get us deep in the game tomorrow. He's got to step up
and give us an outing. And he did. At his age, and with his
experience, to have to ride him like that is a compliment to what
he's done and what he's accomplished so far."
 Colon and Harvey are scheduled to pitch the first two games of a
three-game series against the Nationals in Washington, D.C., that
begins Monday night. The second-place Mets are 1 1/2 games behind
first-place Washington.
The uncertainty of Colon and Harvey seemed to be on Collins' mind
both during the game, when he had closer Jeurys Familia throw the
ninth inning for the third straight day, and afterward.
"We wanted to make sure we have (Logan) Verrett (available this
week)," Collins said, referring to the Mets' long reliever. "You've
got to look down the road to where you might need some length here."
Syndergaard looked as if he might struggle to provide that length
Sunday when he gave up an unearned run in the first inning and
needed 57 pitches to get through the third.
"First inning, I almost felt a little too strong out there,"
Syndergaard said. "I relaxed a little bit and calmed down."
Syndergaard retired 14 of the final 17 batters he faced, a stretch
in which he recorded six strikeouts.
"I think with some of these guys, they just go until the ball is
taken from them," said Mets reliever Jim Henderson, who threw a
scoreless eighth. "If they're looking strong in the sixth, seventh,
eighth inning when their pitch counts get up, it's pretty easy for
Terry to throw them out there for another inning."
The Brewers threatened in the seventh, when Hernan Perez singled,
went to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a single by
Alex Presley. But Presley was thrown out trying to advance to second
on a pitch in the dirt, after which Syndergaard struck out Ramon
Flores and retired Aaron Hill on a groundout.
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"It's his read," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of Presley.
"But that's a spot where, down 3-1, you've got to be sure."
Henderson and Familia (15th save) each allowed a hit in preserving
the second win of the week by Syndergaard, who posted an 0.00 ERA
while striking out 21 and walking none in 14 innings.
"When you looked up and he got you through the seventh inning -- I
saluted him," Collins said.
Michael Conforto homered in the first for the Mets and began the
go-ahead rally in the fourth, when he drew a leadoff walk. Conforto
went to third on a double to left by Yoenis Cespedes and both
runners raced home on a one-out single by Asdrubal Cabrera.
Right-hander Chase Anderson took the defeat after allowing three
runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six over five
innings for the Brewers (18-26), who have lost seven of 11, all by
three runs or fewer.
"We've just got to learn how to win those one-run, close games like
that," Anderson said. "But that comes with maturity and experience
and we are trying to get that here."
Perez was the lone player on either team with two hits.
NOTES: The Mets swept the Brewers at home for the first time since
2002, when the Mets still played at Shea Stadium. ... Mets 1B Lucas
Duda (lower back) sat out for the second straight day and for the
fourth time in the last six games. Manager Terry Collins said team
medical director David Altchek will view Duda's MRI Monday but
acknowledged he is worried about the news Duda will get. ... Brewers
LF Ryan Braun went 1-for-4 with a stolen base after missing the
previous four games with a sore back. ... Brewers IF/OF Ramon Flores
made his first big league start at first base in place of 1B Chris
Carter, who sat for just the third time this year.
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