Offense abundant as Rockies rock Mets

Denver, CO – Offense was alive and well on Friday at Coors Field as the Colorado Rockies exploded for 11 runs in the fifth inning and pounded the New York Mets, 18-9, in the opener of a three-game set.

The Rockies, who pounded out 19 hits in the game, were led by Carlos Gonzalez, who finished 3-for-6 with six RBI and a run scored. Ramon Hernandez crushed a grand slam, Troy Tulowitzki added a solo shot and Dexter Fowler clubbed a three-run homer.

Every player in the Rockies' starting lineup, including starter Drew Pomeranz had at least one hit, while Todd Helton and Jonathan Herrera each added an RBI for Colorado, which bounced back from a 5-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday in a big way.

"There were some very special things that took place offensively tonight," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "Despite how many runs we score, we showed tremendous disciple at the plate, and that enabled us to string hits together."

Matt Reynolds (3-0) gave up two hits and no runs in one inning of work to earn the win, while Manny Acosta (0-1) was tagged for seven runs -- four earned -- on five hits and two walks in just 1/3 of an inning to suffer the loss.

Scott Hairston hit for the cycle in just four at-bats, scored three times and knocked in four runs, Ruben Tejada had four hits and two runs scored, while Lucas Duda had two RBI for the Mets, who had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Hairston's cycle was the 10th in Mets franchise history and he became the first Met to hit for the cycle since Jose Reyes on June 21, 2006. Other Mets to accomplish the feat include: John Olerud in 1997, Keith Hernandez in 1985, Tommie Agee in 1970 and Jim Hickman, who hit the franchise's first cycle in 1963.

Hairston had just five hits in 29 at-bats this season entering Friday's game.

"That was probably one of the most craziest games I've ever been a part of," Hairston said. "But that's just one day. That's just one day in the season, and we've got to put it behind us."

Trailing 6-2 heading into the home fifth, the Rockies exploded for 11 runs to break the game wide open. The outburst started with Eric Young Jr. reaching on an error by Mets starter Chris Schwinden and it snowballed from there. Young stole second and scored on a single by Herrera for the first run of the frame.

Gonzalez followed with his monster shot to right center field to tie the game at six. Tulowitzki and Helton singled and Michael Cuddyer walked to load the bases before Tulowitzki scored on a groundout by Hernandez to give the Rockies the lead for good at 7-6.

Fowler's three-run homer to deep right field came two batters later to make it 9-6 and Gonzalez singled home Young and Marco Scutaro later in the inning. Herrera scored on a throwing error by Zack Lutz to cap the huge inning.

Hairston doubled home Tejada and David Wright and then scored on a Duda single in the sixth to make it 13-9. The Mets would not score again.

Helton drove home Scutaro and Herrera to make it 15-9 in the seventh and Hernandez followed two batters later with his grand slam to deep right field off Mets reliever Bobby Parnell to cap the scoring.

The Mets opened the scoring in their first at-bat when Kirk Nieuwenhuis singled to center to start the game and moved to second on an error by Fowler. He then advanced to third on a groundout by Tejada and scored on a fielder's choice to give the Mets the early lead.

Colorado responded with two runs in the home half of the inning when Tulowitzki blasted an offering from Schwinden over the left field wall to put the Rockies on top, 2-1.

The Mets added four runs in the top of the fifth. Tejada singled to start the frame and Hairston brought him home with a triple. Duda followed with an RBI single into right. Mike Nickeas and Schwinden stroked back-to-back RBI base hits to give the Mets a seemingly comfortable 6-2 lead.

Game Notes

The Mets fell to 5-2 in the first game of a series this season...Pomeranz left after four innings with arm stiffness. He gave up two runs -- one earned -- on five hits and three walks while fanning four...Schwinden was tagged for six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits and one walk...It was Tejada's second four-hit game of the season...It was Gonzalez's third 6-RBI game of his career. He also set a franchise record with five RBI in the fifth inning.