Rockies complete 4-game sweep of Mets
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chris Nelson's RBI single in the eighth inning was the difference as the Colorado Rockies completed a four-game sweep of the New York Mets with a 1-0 victory on Thursday.
Rex Brothers (8-2) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief, while Matt Belisle left the tying run on second in the ninth to secure his first save of the season for Colorado, which has won five straight overall.
Collin McHugh made his major league debut for New York and gave up just two hits and a walk while striking out nine over seven innings in a no-decision.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I was really impressed," Mets manager Terry Collins said about McHugh. "He did exactly what we wanted him to do."
Bobby Parnell (2-3) surrendered the game's lone run to take the loss for the Mets, who have dropped five straight.
The Rockies, who did not advance a runner past first base after stranding a man on third in the first inning, broke the scoreless tie in the eighth when Nelson followed Tyler Colvin's leadoff triple with a base hit up the middle.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Colvin said he was happy to see his triple get over the head of Mets center fielder Jordany Valdespin to set up the lone run.
"I knew I hit it well and it had good backspin on it," Colvin said. "I saw him take a couple of steps in there and I knew I had him."
New York, meanwhile, squandered McHugh's impressive outing by leaving a runner on second base in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh innings. The Mets hit 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base over that span.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The trend continued into the final two frames as Will Harris worked around a two-out double by Ruben Tejada in the eighth inning before Belisle stranded Justin Turner on second in the ninth by inducing a pair of fly outs by Daniel Murphy and David Wright.
Game Notes
McHugh got the start in place of Johan Santana, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with back problems that have been plaguing him all season ... Tyler Chatwood allowed three hits and walked three in a three- inning start for Colorado ... New York finished the game hitting 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base ... The Mets have been held to two runs or less in their last six games ... Colorado has won eight straight games at Citi Field dating back to April 11, 2011.