NEW YORK — Chad Bettis pitched like an ace, Nolan Arenado’s homer scored a direct hit on the Big Apple and David Dahl produced a crucial pinch-hit RBI.
The result was a 2-0 Rockies victory over the Mets on Saturday night at Citi Field. It was the fourth consecutive victory for Colorado — a season high — and ensured the club of a winning record on this tough, nine-game road trip.
Bettis was brilliant — again. Mixing all of his pitches, including a curve he dropped in on any count, he kept the Mets off-balance. He pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing six hits and walking only one while striking out two. Bettis (4-1) lowered his overall ERA to 2.05, and his road ERA to 1.35.
“Tonight was definitely a much bigger mix of pitches than prior starts,” Bettis said, acknowledging that his didn’t use his go-to changeup quite as much. “I thought (catcher) Chris (Iannetta) and I had a good game plan going in and I thought we executed it very well.”
Right-hander Adam Ottavino, the closest thing the Rockies have to a sure thing, shut down the Mets in the eighth, and closer Wade Davis pitched a perfect ninth, picking up his 13th save in 14 chances.
Over the past 10 games, Colorado starters have pitched like the Braves of Greg Maddux and company, posting a 1.61 ERA with nine quality starts.
So, while the offense has run hot and cold, and the bullpen has had some issues, the rotation has given the Rockies a chance to win each of those 10 games.
Bettis escaped a peculiar jam in the sixth. Asdrubal Cabrera line a one-out single before Jay Bruce scorched a ball right at first baseman Ian Desmond, who couldn’t handle it, but kept it from heading into the corner for extra bases. Bruce was given a hit and the Mets looked like they were in business with runners on first and second. But Todd Frazier lined out to shortstop Trevor Story, who turned a double play by doubling up Cabrera at second.
Dahl allowed the Rockies to breath in the ninth. They jammed the bases when Iannetta was hit by a pitch, Noel Cuevas singled and Carlos Gonzalez was intentionally walked. Up stepped Dahl, who, after whiffing on a 3-0 pitch, laced Robert Gsellman’s 3-1 fastball to left, scoring Iannetta.
“I think that 3-0 swing helped me on that next pitch,” Dahl said. “I just tried to take my same approach on that at-bat. I’ve been working a lot in the cage, trying to minimize some movements. I’m just trying to simplify some things.”
Arenado continued his hitting streak, belting a two-out, solo home run in the first off Mets left-hander Steve Matz. The ball sailed over the 408-foot mark in dead-center field and hit the mechanical Big Apple that rises up with the Mets hit a long ball.
“That was pretty cool,” he said. “I didn’t think I had the power to do that. I hit it as good as I could.”
Arenado extended his season-best hitting streak to six games, during which he’s batted .333 with four home runs.
A mental error by Charlie Blackmon cost the Rockies a possible chance in the sixth. Blackmon led off with an infield single and stole second, putting him in prime position to score. But when Ian Desmond lined out sharply to center fielder Brandon Nimmo, Blackmon tagged up but was thrown out easily on Nimmo’s one-hop throw to third. Arenado struck out to end the inning.
The Rockies failed to get an earlier insurance run. In the eighth, Pat Valaika hit a one-out single and the Mets intentionally walked Blackmon to pitch to Desmond. The strategy paid off. Gsellman struck Desmond out looking at an 88 mph changeup. Desmond didn’t like the call, but the rally died. Desmond, 0-for-4, is now batting .177.
Looking ahead
Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-4, 4.24 ERA) at Mets RHP Noah Syndergaard (2-1, 3.10), 11:10 a.m. Sunday; ATTRM, 850 AM
Freeland is coming off a tough loss at Chicago, where he pitched well but didn’t get the victory. The left-hander allowed three runs on six hits, struck out five and walked only one. Overall, Freeland has not pitched well away from Coors Field. He’s 0-3 with a 5.57 ERA in four road starts this season, but he’s starting to find his form and he’s reducing his walks. Freeland pitched three scoreless innings in relief July 15 at Citi Field in Colorado’s 9-3 loss to the Mets. Syndergaard was not very “Thor-like” in his last start, allowing three earned runs on 10 hits over six innings in a loss to the Braves. All three runs, coming on five hits, came in the first inning. Syndergaard is 1-1 with a 3.80 ERA in four starts at Citi Field this season. He took a no-decision in his last start against the Rockies on July 31 at Citi Field, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits in a 6-4 New York victory.
Monday: Off day
Tuesday: Angels LHP Andrew Heaney (1-1, 5.31 ERA) at Rockies RHP Jon Gray (3-4, 4.99), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
Wednesday: Angels RHP Jaime Barria (2-1, 3.46) at Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (2-0, 3.78), 1:10 p.m., ATTRM
Thursday: Brewers RHP Jhoulys Chacin (2-1, 4.54) at Rockies German Marquez (2-3, 4.76), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
