Mets hit 4 homers to back Colon in 6-5 win over Indians

CLEVELAND (AP) The offense finally got into the swing of things for the New York Mets on Friday night.

Yoenis Cespedes and Neil Walker each hit a two-run homer in a five-run fifth inning to spark a 6-5 win over the Cleveland Indians.

New York belted four home runs, including three in the decisive fifth, after hitting two in their first eight games, a major league low.

''Home runs are big for us,'' manager Terry Collins said. ''We need to hit them. Tonight we swung the bats good, which was nice to see.''

Walker agreed with his manager's assessment.

''We're trying to drive the ball in the gap and stay in the big part of the field,'' he said. ''Nights like tonight are good examples of what we can do when we get into hitters' counts and find some barrels.''

Michael Conforto and Alejandro De Aza also homered to boost a team that had scored 20 runs all season going into the game.

''The hits are starting to fall,'' Conforto said. ''We're putting up quality at-bats and getting pitch counts up. That's good to see. Hopefully we'll start putting more runs up.''

Cleveland scored three times in the ninth before Jeurys Familia retired Jose Ramirez with two on for his third save.

Bartolo Colon (1-1) allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings against his original team. He struck out five and earned his 219th win, tying Pedro Martinez for second-most by a Dominican-born pitcher behind Juan Marichal (243).

''He's a class act, a pro,'' Collins said. ''He always takes the ball and he gives you all he's got. If you give him something to work with he keeps you in the game.''

De Aza had a leadoff homer in the fifth and finished with three hits from the No. 9 spot in the batting order. Cespedes also had three of New York's 14 hits.

Carlos Santana's two-run homer off Addison Reed with two outs in the bottom of the ninth cut the margin to 6-4.

Familia, pitching for the fourth time in five days, allowed Yan Gomes' single. Marlon Byrd had an RBI single after a wild pitch. Juan Uribe drew a four-pitch walk, but Familia ended the rally there.

''We just ran out of innings,'' Indians manager Terry Francona said. ''I always believe we're going to win the game. If we do that enough, we'll win one of these.''

Conforto, moved up to third in the lineup, hit a solo homer in the first. De Aza's drive in the fifth was his first hit of the season and it broke a 1-all tie. Cespedes added a two-run shot off starter Cody Anderson (0-1), and Walker connected off reliever Ross Detwiler.

It was Walker's first home run batting right-handed since Sept. 7, 2014, with Pittsburgh against Chicago Cubs lefty Travis Wood, according to STATS LLC.

Mike Napoli had an RBI single in the first for the Indians.

De Aza's home run was his first hit of the season and began New York's big inning. The Mets were held to three or fewer runs seven times before Friday.

Anderson gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings for his first loss since Aug. 1.

Both teams were denied runs early in the game. Santana's apparent two-run homer down the right-field line in the first was taken off the board after the umpires conferred and ruled the ball foul.

Walker led off the second with a single and was called safe at home by plate umpire Dale Scott on Asdrubal Cabrera's double, but the call was reversed after a challenge by Francona.

The Mets have won two straight after losing four in a row. New York is 9-4 all-time in the interleague series.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (sore lat muscle on right side) threw 25 pitches in a bullpen session in Florida. Collins said deGrom, who had an MRI earlier in the week, is scheduled to throw again Sunday. A decision on whether he'll be placed on the disabled list could come this weekend. ... Cespedes was the DH after jumping into the stands trying to catch a foul ball Wednesday.

Indians: OF Michael Brantley (right shoulder surgery) will play six innings Saturday for Double-A Akron.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Matt Harvey has a 1.27 ERA in nine career interleague starts, but has not pitched against the Indians.

Indians: RHP Josh Tomlin makes his first appearance of the season. Inclement weather prevented him from taking his first two turns in the rotation.