Nieuwenhuis hits 3 HR, Mets win 5-3, sweep DBacks

Jul 12, 2015, 2:31 PM | Updated: 2:47 pm
...

NEW YORK — Kirk Nieuwenhuis homered three times to help the New York Mets beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 on Sunday and complete a three-game sweep.

Nieuwenhuis homered twice off Diamondbacks starter Rubby De La Rosa (6-5), in the second and third innings and once off reliever Randall Delgado in the fifth. His homer off Delgado rang off the right field foul ball and drew a curtain call from the cheering crowd of 28,259.

The Mets outfielder’s effort backed Jonathon Niese, who was starting in place of the injured Steven Matz. Niese (5-8) allowed three runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings.

Nieuwenhuis’ effort marked the first time any Met had ever homered three times in a home game. Nieuwenhuis is the 10th player in Mets history with a three-homer game and the first since Ike Davis accomplished the feat on July 28, 2012 at Arizona.

He was a mere 3-for-38 before being designated for assignment by the Mets on May 19. New York reacquired him on June 13, after he was waived by the Angels. With a chance to tie the major league record of four home runs in a game, last matched by Josh Hamilton in 2012, Nieuwenhuis struck out against left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin.

Daniel Murphy also homered for the Mets and all 13 runs produced by the team in the series were via home runs.

After Nieuwenhus’ first blast opened scoring in the second, the Diamondbacks scratched out a run when Chris Owings lead off the third with a double and scored on Nick Ahmed’s groundout to short.

Paul Goldschmidt snapped out of a 0-for-8 skid with a long home run in the fourth.

After David Peralta’s two-out, RBI single in the seventh, Jenrry Mejia made his first appearance of the season, retiring Owings on a flyball to Curtis Granderson to end the threat. Mejia had served a 80-game suspension for using Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing drug.

Bobby Parnell worked around a two-out walk to All-Star A.J. Pollock, helped by a diving catch in foul territory by first baseman Lucas Duda.

Jeurys Familia pitched the ninth for his 27th save in 29 chances. Familia closed all three games in the series.

TRAINER’S ROOM:

Mets: OF Michael Cuddyer (knee) was held out of the lineup after starting back-to-back games. Manager Terry Collins said, “it was a good day to get his lefties in there” against De La Rosa, but also suggested that giving Cuddyer an extra day off, because of knee, made sense.OF Curtis Granderson and IF Daniel Murphy both returned to the starting lineup after receiving a day off (rest). … Juan Lagares came out the game at the start of the right inning with a tight right calf.

Diamondbacks: Pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (blister) wore a band-aid on his injured finger and threw a side session before the game. Prior to the game, manager Chip Hale indicated that depending on how the session went, changes might have to be made to his post All-Star game rotation. Shortly before first pitch, the Diamondbacks announced that Hellickson, who was scheduled to pitch the team’s second game after the break, would switch places with Chase Anderson and pitch the fifth game instead. …

UP NEXT:

Mets: After the All-Star break, the Mets begin a stretch of ten games in ten days against the three first place teams in the National League, with the first six coming on the road. The Mets will travel to St. Louis to begin the second half, taking on the Cardinals. Collins indicated that Noah Syndergaard (4-4, 3.11 ERA) would likely start the first game of the series, followed by either Bartolo Colon or Jonathon Niese.

Diamondbacks: Following the break, the Diamondbacks begin a ten-game homestand. The San Francisco Giants are first up on the schedule, for a three-game NL West matchup. Robbie Ray (3-4, 2.16 ERA) will be on the mound for the series opener. Chase Anderson and Patrick Corbin will follow him. Anderson was originally scheduled to pitch the fifth game after the break, to provide him with extra rest, but it was announced prior to the game that he would switch places with Jeremy Hellickson.

New York Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Rubby De La Rosa delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Teammates greet New York Mets' Kirk Nieuwenhuis, center, after he hit a second-inning solo home run that hit the outfield wall and was video-reviewed to confirm the on-field ruling in a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Mets Kirk Nieuwenhuis (9) hits a third-inning, two-run home run, his second home run of the game, in a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Mets Kirk Nieuwenhuis (9) hits a third-inning, two-run, home run, his second home run of the game, in a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo (7) consoles Diamondbacks starting pitcher Rubby De La Rosa (12) in the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
A teammate greets Arizona Diamondbacks Paul Goldschmidt (44) at the dugout steps after Goldschmidt hit a third-inning solo home run in a baseball game against the New York Mets in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo, left, watches along with New York Mets Kirk Nieuwenhuis who hit his third home run in a baseball game against the Diamondbacks in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese, left, reacts after allowing a third-inning, solo, home run to Arizona Diamondbacks Paul Goldschmidt, who trots the bases in a baseball game in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Mets center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis catches Jake Lamb's ninth-inning flyout with a runner on base in the Mets 5-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. Nieuwenhuis hit three home runs in the game, the tenth Met to achieve that, and the first to do it at home. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Mets center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis (9) and Mets left fielder John Mayberry Jr. (44) run in from the outfield after the Mets 5-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. Nieuwenhuis hit three home runs in the game. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Mets left fielder John Mayberry Jr. (44) celebrates with New York Mets center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis (9) in the outfield after the Mets 5-3 victory and a sweep over the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. Nieuwenhuis hit three home runs in the game. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Randall Delgado, left, reacts after allowing a fifth-inning solo home run to New York Mets' Kirk Nieuwenhuis, back right, who runs the bases during a baseball game in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Mets Kirk Nieuwenhuis smiles in the dugout after hitting the second of his three home runs in a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. The first and second home runs came off Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Rubby De La Rosa, while Diamondbacks relief pitcher Randall Delgado (48) allowed the third home run. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Home plate umpire Hal Gibson (73) watches as Arizona Diamondbacks Yasmany Tomas hits a seventh-inning double off New York Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese in a baseball game in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Arizona Diamondbacks

Outfielders (L-R) Jake McCarthy #30, Alek Thomas #5 and Corbin Carroll #7 of the Arizona Diamondbac...
Austin Scott

MLB experts make predictions for D-backs’ 2023 season

The D-backs had a strong spring and enter this season with lots of positives. Here are where MLB experts have them finishing in 2023.
14 hours ago
Fans cheer for an Opening Day baseball game between Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at...
Alex Weiner

What to know for Diamondbacks’ Opening Day at Dodgers

The Diamondbacks start the season with four games at Dodger Stadium, another two at Petco Park against the Padres then return home.
14 hours ago
Corbin Carroll #7 of the Arizona Diamondbacks high fives teammates after defeating the Philadelphia...
Arizona Sports

Meet the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2023 Opening Day roster

The D-backs are set for Opening Day with a 26-man roster and the Los Angeles Dodgers up in their first series.
14 hours ago
Pitcher Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks looks on from the dugout during the eighth innin...
Alex Weiner

Zac Gallen says current D-backs are ‘probably the closest team I’ve been on’

Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen gets that brotherly feel from the team's clubhouse entering the regular season.
14 hours ago
General view outside of Chase Field before the MLB game between the Boston Red Sox and the Arizona ...
Arizona Sports

Hall: D-backs’ Chase Field future could be decided in 1-2 months

The future of the Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Field could be decided in a timeline of one or two months, Derrick Hall told Bickley & Marotta 
14 hours ago
Arizona Diamondbacks OF Corbin Carroll (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)...
Arizona Sports

Roundtable: Which D-backs are we most excited to see in 2023?

Corbin Carroll and his Arizona Diamondback teammates in the outfield have hype behind them to begin the 2023 MLB season.
14 hours ago
Nieuwenhuis hits 3 HR, Mets win 5-3, sweep DBacks