Rockies finish strong road trip with 6-4 loss to Mets

NEW YORK (AP) Thanks to a recent run of improved play, the Colorado Rockies figure their team will be intact after Monday's trade deadline. The surprising

NEW YORK (AP) Thanks to a recent run of improved play, the Colorado Rockies figure their team will be intact after Monday's trade deadline.

The surprising Rockies are within striking distance of a wild-card spot, and it seems there's no sell-off coming this season. At least that was the clubhouse consensus following Sunday's 6-4 loss to the New York Mets.

''We feel close to each other, so I don't think there will be any changes,'' slugger Carlos Gonzalez said. ''We are playing good ball, so it makes it easier for the club to continue to put confidence in this club and each player in this room.''

Colorado nearly completed a season sweep of the defending NL champions, but let it slip away. Boone Logan gave up a go-ahead, three-run homer to Neil Walker in the seventh inning that rallied the Mets.

Gonzalez hit a tying double in the fifth and a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh off winner Jerry Blevins (4-1). Daniel Descalso had two RBI singles for the Rockies (52-53), who had won five in a row and nine of 10.

Just last year, Colorado traded star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in the days before the non-waiver deadline. This summer, the outlook feels different, the future more promising.

''We're playing really well. It's really exciting, where we're at right now,'' second baseman DJ LeMahieu said. ''I see us keeping it rolling, too.

''We believe in ourselves. You can't fake believing in it, and we believe in it.''

After the first pitch was delayed 38 minutes by rain, Chad Bettis recovered from a shaky start and yielded three runs in six innings. He retired his final 10 batters (five on strikeouts) as Colorado - long a wasteland for pitchers - broke the club record with its 20th quality start this month.

''It's huge for us, especially for our starting staff, and we just have to keep it rolling and see what we can do,'' Bettis said. ''We know that whoever is going out there on any given day is going to get the job done.''

Walker also had an RBI triple, extending his recent tear at the plate, and Jeurys Familia rebounded from consecutive blown saves. New York sustained another costly injury, this one to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, but snapped a four-game skid that matched its longest this season.

Playing without ailing slugger Yoenis Cespedes, the Mets averted a four-game sweep and finished 1-6 against the Rockies this year. Before that, New York took 11 straight from Colorado - including a 7-0 mark last season.

''It's a huge win for us,'' manager Terry Collins said.

De Aza walked with one out in the seventh and, one out later, James Loney drew a 10-pitch walk from Logan (1-1). Walker drove his 17th homer to left-center, pumped his fist after crossing the plate and eventually came out for a curtain call.

Logan had not allowed a home run since Peter Bourjos connected for St. Louis on June 9 last year. The left-hander's streak lasted 45 2/3 innings.

''He's been close to perfect this year,'' Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. ''To go 5-2 on this road trip, I think our confidence is about as high - certainly as high as it's been all year.''

Addison Reed struck out three in a one-hit eighth, and Familia fanned two in a perfect ninth for his major league-leading 37th save in 39 attempts.

PLAY AT THE PLATE

Gonzalez tried to score from third with two outs in the fifth on a pitch that got past Rene Rivera, but plate umpire Jeff Kellogg ruled the Mets catcher made the tag in time as both players dove headlong toward the plate. After a replay review, the call stood. ''I was definitely safe. I don't know what they were looking at,'' Gonzalez said.

FOR STARTERS

Mets All-Star Noah Syndergaard threw a career-high 118 pitches over six innings. Bettis matched his career best with eight strikeouts in six innings. Both pitchers are from Texas and they train together in the offseason. ''It was fun,'' Bettis said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: Rookie SS Trevor Story sat out with a jammed left thumb that he injured Saturday night. Story, who began the day leading the NL with 27 home runs, said his goal is to return Tuesday at home against the Dodgers. He might have an MRI on Monday after the Rockies return home, the team said. ... Slumping 3B Nolan Arenado was out of the lineup for rest but entered on defense in the seventh.

Mets: Cabrera hurt his left knee while scoring from first base on Walker's two-out triple in the first.

UP NEXT

Following a day off, Colorado begins an eight-game homestand Tuesday night. RHP Jon Gray (7-4, 3.94 ERA) pitches against Los Angeles, looking to improve his 4-0 record at Coors Field. Gray has gone seven innings and allowed no more than one run in three straight starts, but has a 6.55 ERA in two outings against the Dodgers this year.