NEW YORK — Matt Holliday’s first-inning mannerisms foretold the story of the Rockies’ woes Sunday night at rowdy Shea Stadium.
In the top of the inning, Holliday, a starting outfielder in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game, struck out, angrily ripped off his helmet and threw his bat to the ground.
In the bottom of the inning, Holliday didn’t even turn around to watch Carlos Beltran’s 415-foot, three-run homer sail over the left-field wall. Holliday didn’t have to; the crack of the bat told the story.
From that point on, the rout was on.
The streaking Mets, winners of nine straight, cruised to a 7-0 victory. It’s the Mets’ longest win streak since they notched nine straight from April 16-25, 2000.
The beat-up Rockies, meanwhile, have gone from Rocktober to rock bottom. They have lost four straight, during which time they scored a combined total of two runs on 15 hits. The Rockies nose-dive into the all-star break, having dropped five of six.
The Mets shut them out for a second straight game, outscoring Colorado 12-1 en route to a three-game sweep. It was, in all likelihood, the Rockies’ final game at Shea, which will be torn down at the end of the season.
Manager Clint Hurdle tipped his cap to the Mets but also said, “We weren’t able to throw any punches back on offense. With one run in three games, you can’t expect to win.”
Mets starter Mike Pelfrey was dominant, extending his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 16. The right-hander, mixing in a 96-mph fastball with good breaking pitches, threw eight innings of six-hit ball, striking out five and walking none. Pelfrey improved to 6-0 in his last six starts, and the Mets improved to 8-1 in his last nine starts.
“He’s got a heavy sinker and he was locating it on both sides of the plate,” said Scott Podsednik, who led off the game with a single but went 0-for-3 after that. “When he’s locating his fastball, you can’t sit on one pitch. And when he’s flipping in the curveball like he was, it’s bound to be a long night. And it was, for our offense.”
At the break, the defending National League champions sit 18 games under .500 (39-57) and 8 1/2 games behind Arizona in the National League West. Last season, the Rockies arrived at the break having won five of six to climb to .500 (44-44). They sat in fourth place in the NL West, 5 1/2 games out of first.
Hurdle can now turn his full attention to Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic, in which he’ll try to steer the National League to its first win since 1996. As for the Rockies, he wants them to forget about baseball for a few days.
“It’s a real good time to get away; we’re bent right now,” Hurdle said. “Three days ago we were playing pretty good baseball with hopes of coming in here and maybe stealing another series. When we come back, we have to play with some urgency.”
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
