Mets' Mejia aims to cool off Rockies

(SportsNetwork.com) - New York Mets surprising starter Jenrry Mejia tries to stay unbeaten and rebound from a recent rough start when he gets the call Saturday in the third test of a four-game set versus the Colorado Rockies.

Mejia opened the season 3-0 with a 1.99 earned run average in his first four appearances -- all New York wins -- and was brought down to earth in a no- decision against Miami last Saturday. He was hammered for a season-high six runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 7-6 loss.

The Dominican right-hander, who allowed a total of five runs over his first four trips to the hill, will face Colorado for the fourth time. In the first three games (1 start) Mejia is 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA (6 1/3 innings).

Rockies lefty Franklin Morales is riding a personal three-game winning streak and draws the start Saturday at Coors Field.

Morales tossed six innings of one-run ball at San Diego on April 17, allowed one run over seven innings versus San Francisco on April 22, then gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings of an 8-5 victory at Arizona on Monday. He was fortunate to have his offense come alive and improved to 3-1 in six games (5 starts) to go along with a 4.40 ERA.

Morales has never started against the Mets, but has faced them seven times in a relief role. He has no record and a 6.23 ERA.

Colorado has won the first two tests of this series after a 7-4 win on Thursday and a 10-3 pounding Friday night. In the seven-run victory, the Rockies set the tone with a four-run first inning and Troy Tulowitzki finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.

Tulowitzki is batting .449 with six homers and 19 RBI in his last 14 games, and leads the majors with a .385 batting average.

Charlie Blackmon had three hits, including a home run, and scored three times for the Rockies, winners in 11 of the last 15 games. Rockies starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa picked up the win with six innings of three-run ball, while Chris Martin, Matt Belisle and Tom Kahnle combined for three scoreless innings of relief.

"We're playing well in most phases of the game right now, but it usually comes down to pitching well and we're doing that," said Rockies manager Walt Weiss.

Weiss's club knows how to hit, too. The Rockies are first in hits (321), batting average (.297), slugging percentage (.484), runs (174), home runs (40) and RBI (167). They are second in on-base percentage (.346).

Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez did not play Friday because of a finger issue and is eyeing a return Saturday. Nolan Arenado extended his hitting streak to 22 games and is batting .352 during the run.

Before Friday's game, Colorado placed infielder Josh Rutledge on the 15-day disabled list with a viral infection and recalled infielder Ryan Wheeler from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

The Mets have dropped two straight after ripping off seven wins in nine tries. Mets starter Zack Wheeler was roughed up in the loss, allowing seven runs -- six earned -- and seven hits in four innings.

"Honestly, I didn't have a clue where the ball was going today," said Wheeler. "When they did hit it, they just found holes."

Curtis Granderson hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning and was one of three players with two hits for New York, which has been outscored 17-7 in the first two games of this set. Juan Lagares and David Wright were the other two batters with two hits.

Though the Mets swept the Rockies in three games at home last season, they lost three of four in Colorado.