Mets rally in 9th to beat Rockies 3-2

NEW YORK (AP) Curtis Granderson had a lot to live up to when he signed a $60 million, four-year contract with the Mets in the offseason.

For much of this year, though, it's been a struggle for the three-time All-Star after moving across town.

He came through on Monday night, hitting a tying triple off former-Met LaTroy Hawkins and scored two pitches later on Wilmer Flores' sacrifice fly to give New York a 3-2 win that stopped the Colorado Rockies' four-game winning streak.

Things may be looking up for Granderson, who has seven RBIs over his last four games - hitting .400 during that stretch. Manager Terry Collins believes that the pressure of changing leagues and trying to fulfill a big contract may have gotten to him for a good portion of the season.

''It is a little different game, different pitchers and a lot of other things he is not used to,'' Collins said. ''He is swinging the bat good right now and that is good for us.''

After Lucas Duda's RBI double in the first, Jordan Lyles, Tommy Kahnle, Brooks Brown and Christian Friedrich pitched shutout ball through the eighth.

Travis d'Arnaud doubled leading off the ninth against Hawkins (3-3), who blew a save for the third time in 25 chances.

Granderson's triple past right fielder Charlie Blackmon scored pinch-runner Eric Young Jr. Granderson then scored easily ahead of Drew Stubbs' off-line throw on Flores' fly to center.

Carlos Torres (7-5) pitched a perfect ninth for the Mets, who wore camouflage jerseys as they started a 10-game homestand.

Michael Cuddyer tied the score in the second with his seventh home run. Activated before the game, Cuddyer had been on the disabled list since Aug. 24 because of a strained left hamstring, his third DL stint this season.

''I was able to get a good pitch to hit and fortunately I didn't miss it,'' said Cuddyer.

Nolan Arenado homered off Vic Black's changeup on an 0-2 pitch leading off the eighth for a 2-1 lead.

''I just threw a bad breaking ball to a guy that is a good hitter,'' said Black.

Mets starter Jonathon Niese allowed one run and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings, struck out seven and walked one. His curveball was hit or miss at times, but the 6-foot-3 left-hander made pitches when he needed to.

''There was some that were good and some that were not so good,'' said Niese. ''Fortunately the good ones I was able to get outs on, and the bad ones they did not crush like they probably should have.''

Lyles gave up one run and three hits in six innings.

Mets center fielder Juan Lagares ran into left-center and extended to make an outstanding backhand catch to rob Arenado of an extra-base hit with a runner on in the first.

Kahnle, a 25-year-old rookie from Latham, New York, pitched a perfect seventh for Colorado.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: C Wilin Rosario, activated Sunday after a stint on the DL caused by left wrist inflammation, pinch hit in the seventh and remained in the game at catcher. He was 0 for 2. ''I'm going to ease him in this series,'' Rockies manager Walt Weiss said before the game. ''I look at his situation a little bit different as a catcher.'' ... Blackmon and 1B Justin Morneau, who leads the NL with a .316 batting average, were not in the starting lineup. ''They've been going at it pretty good,'' Weiss said. ''It seemed like a good time to give them a day.''

Mets: 2B Daniel Murphy (strained right calf) is expected to be activated from the 15-day DL on Tuesday, according to Mets general manager Sandy Alderson.

UP NEXT

Rockies: Rookie RHP Christian Bergman (2-2) starts Tuesday and will be looking to win for the third time in four outings since returning from a broken left hand on Aug. 24.

Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (7-6) faces Colorado for the first time. He has not allowed an earned run in 14 innings.

EXTRA, EXTRA

The Mets had six hits in the game, all for extra bases, marking the first time in franchise history that they had five or more hits and no singles.

KEEPING SCORE

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, tonight's matchup was Howie Karpin's 900th regular season game as official scorer - dating back to September 13, 1998, at Yankee Stadium. A long-time fixture in New York-area press boxes, Karpin has also been the official scorer for three World Series games as well as the 2013 All-Star Game held at Citi Field.