Gomez motors home on error, Brewers beat Mets 3-2

MILWAUKEE (AP) Carlos Gomez rounded second on Adam Lind's double and it looked as if he was slowing down when third-base coach Ed Sedar started waving him on.

Gomez raced home safely with the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning when outfielder Michael Cuddyer misplayed a double off the wall, helping the Milwaukee Brewers beat the injury-riddled New York Mets 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Just as important to the Brewers, Gomez's sprint around the bases showed he might just be over an upper right leg/hip injury that has slowed him down for much of June.

''I thought he looked pretty good,'' manager Craig Counsell said. ''It was a marked improvement over what we saw'' last week.

This is crucial for the Brewers, who are desperately trying to salvage some respectability out of what has been a dismal season. The win on Tuesday improved last-place Milwaukee to 26-46.

Gomez is the Brewers' high-energy ignitor, able to hit for power and has speed. He won a Gold Glove in 2013.

He could be a high-value trade target for other teams or a cornerstone for the Brewers' future rebuilding plans.

For now, Milwaukee will gladly settle for a victory after having lost eight of nine.

For a while on Tuesday, the game had the feel of another frustrating, low-scoring affair that typically hasn't gone the Brewers' way this year. Milwaukee left 11 men on base.

''But we kept putting runners out there and did a good job in the seventh getting another one,'' Counsell said.

Thanks in large part to Cuddyer.

Gomez had yet to reach third on Adam Lind's double down the left-field line off Sean Gilmartin when the ball took a high hop off the side wall on Cuddyer. The ball bounced just over Cuddyer's glove and trickled through his legs, allowing Gomez to score.

Explained Cuddyer: ''If I wait back on that ball, two things can happen: one, it can miss the jet out and go straight to the wall; or, Carlos Gomez beats it anyway. You hope for a good hop but unfortunately, off the cement, it took a bad hop.''

FALLING METS

New York lost its sixth straight, falling to .500 (36-36) for the first time since it was 3-3 on April 12.

The Mets placed starting catcher Travis d'Arnaud on the disabled list for the second time this season before the game with a left elbow injury.

The margin of error for the offensively challenged Mets got even tighter with d'Arnaud rejoining middle-of-the-order mainstays David Wright and Daniel Murphy on the disabled list. D'Arnaud spent nearly two months on the DL with a broken right pinkie.

''Nothing's going our way right now,'' Cuddyer said.

Hansel Robles (1-2) took the loss after allowing Gomez to reach on a walk.

WHAT A RELIEF

Will Smith (3-0) pitched 1 1-3 innings of scoreless relief before Francisco Rodriguez tossed a perfect ninth for his 14th save in 14 chances.

The closer known as ''K-Rod'' has a 1.04 ERA. He's had a terrific year in spite of inconsistent opportunities because of the Brewers' tough season.

''The more I pitch the better I feel. I need to be out there more often,'' Rodriguez said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: Collins was hopeful that d'Arnaud would need just the minimum 15 days on the disabled list to recover from his left elbow injury. ... Murphy (left quad) could be ready to start a rehab assignment soon, assistant general manager John Ricco said.

Brewers: Gomez went 1 for 2 with a walk and hit-by-pitch after missing two games in Colorado over the weekend. The injury has bothered him for much of June.

UP NEXT

Mets: Bartolo Colon (9-5) looks to rebound from a tough outing his last time out, when the right-hander allowed seven runs in a 4 1-3 innings in a 7-1 loss to Toronto on Thursday.

Brewers: Jimmy Nelson (3-8) gave up a career-high 11 hits in five innings in his last outing, a 3-2 loss Thursday to Kansas City. The young right-hander is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in two career starts against the Mets.

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