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          New York Mets

          Rapid Reaction: Mets 14, Rockies 9

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 23, 2015, 03:40 AM
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              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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          DENVER -- High altitude (and the Colorado Rockies’ pitching) agrees with the New York Mets.

          The Amazin’s raced to a double-digit lead and held on for a 14-9 win against the Rockies on Saturday night -- the identical score to the series opener the previous night.

          The Mets (66-56) maintained a five-game lead over the Washington Nationals for first place in the National League East.

          It marked the first time in franchise history Mets pitchers surrendered nine runs in consecutive games and won both.

          The Mets have scored a combined 28 runs in two games at Coors Field this weekend. The last time the Mets produced at least 14 runs in consecutive games was June 28-29, 2011 at Detroit.

          The Mets knocked out Chris Rusin in an eight-run third inning during which they batted around before the first out was recorded. Juan Uribe’s solo homer broke a 3-all tie, Jonathon Niese contributed a two-run single and Curtis Granderson chased Rusin with a two-run double for a 10-3 lead. Uribe grounded into a run-scoring double play against reliever Justin Miller for the 11th run charged to Rusin.

          The 11 earned runs charged to Rusin were the most ever by a pitcher against the Mets. St. Louis’ Mitchell Boggs also allowed 11 runs -- but only 10 earned -- against the Mets on July 3, 2008.

          Niese was the beneficiary of all the run support. Staked to a 3-0 lead, Niese surrendered a game-tying three-run triple to Kyle Parker in the bottom of the second. Niese (8-9) departed after surrendering a two-run homer to Charlie Blackmon with one out in the sixth that pulled Colorado within 14-7.

          Jose Reyes then greeted Eric O’Flaherty with a solo homer as the Rockies moved within six runs. Carlos Torres surrendered a run in the seventh.

          Juan Lagares, Granderson and Wilmer Flores each had three hits to pace the Mets’ season-high-matching 21-hit attack.

          What’s next: Logan Verrett makes his first major-league start, subbing for Matt Harvey, who is being skipped to conserve innings. Verrett (0-1, 2.82 ERA) opposes right-hander David Hale (3-4, 6.17) in Sunday’s 4:10 p.m. ET series finale.

          The Mets are bidding for the franchise’s first-ever sweep of a series at Coors Field.

          After winning all four games against the Rockies at Citi Field earlier this month, the Mets also will aim for their first sweep of a season series against the Rockies.