Mets fall 10 games below .500, as Rockies sweep doubleheader and series
The Colorado Rockies won just 43 games last season, easily the fewest in the majors.
But things are different this season, at least so far. The Rockies (13-16) are just three games below .500 through 29 games, including Sunday's doubleheader sweep of the lowly Mets.
In the opener, Jose Quintana got his first win of the season as the Rockies rolled to a 3-1 victory. In the second game, a makeup after Saturday's game was postponed due to rain, Colorado right-hander Chase Dollander shut down New York over seven innings in a 3-0 win.
The Mets are now 9-19, tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the worst record in baseball, and are 47-74 dating to mid-June of last year.
Game 1 recap
Troy Johnston hit an RBI single in the fourth and broke a 1-1 tie with a run-scoring, double-play grounder in the sixth. Jake McCarthy added an RBI single in the seventh for Colorado, which clinched its third series win this year. Last season, the Rockies didn't win their third series until July 18-20.
Players won four of seven challenges to the robot umpire on ball-strike calls by plate umpire Ryan Blakney.
Blakney was challenged four times in the first inning, with three called overturned, including a called strike to Bo Bichette that became a ball on Quintana's first pitch. The inning ended when Brett Baty started heading to first when Blakney called ball four on a bases-loaded, full-count sinker on the outside corner only to have the ABS system change it to a called third strike -- the first of three against Baty.
Quintana (1-2) allowed two hits in a season-high 5 1/3 innings. Jaden Hill escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth by retiring Luis Robert Jr. on a foul pop and striking out Mark Vientos, and Victor Vodnik got three straight outs for his fourth save, finishing a four-hitter.
Nolan McLean (1-2) gave up two runs -- one earned -- and five hits in five innings for the Mets.
With Francisco Lindor on the injured list, Bichette made his first start at shortstop this year.
Tyrone Taylor tied the score in the fifth with his second homer of the season, matching his 2025 total, a drive to left into a 15 mph wind.
Francisco Alvarez had been 0 for 28 in his big league career as a pinch hitter before his eighth-inning single.
Game 2 recap
Dollander scattered five hits while striking out seven and walking just two in his seven innings.
Johnston singled in the Rockies' first run off Mets starter Kodai Senga in the second inning and and Hunter Goodman followed with a two-run homer in the third.
Pitching on eight days' rest, Senga (0-4) allowed three runs, three hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings as his ERA rose to 9.00. He has allowed five homers in 20 innings.
The Mets, who have lost 15 of 17 overall, have now scored two runs or less in 14 of their 28 games.
Up Next
Rockies: Cincinnati RHP Chase Burns (2-1, 2.57) starts the series opener against visiting Colorado.
Mets: RHP Clay Holmes (2-2, 2.10) starts Tuesday's series opener against Washington and RHP Zack Littell (0-3, 7.56), the Mets first game against an NL East rival.