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          New York Mets

          Noah Syndergaard swings his way into Mets record book

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 17, 2016, 05:57 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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          PHOENIX -- Noah Syndergaard earned a share of a New York Mets record on Tuesday. It came with a swing of his bat in the fifth inning.

          Syndergaard broke a tie with a two-run homer against Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Braden Shipley, and the Mets went on to a 7-5 win at Chase Field.

          Syndergaard's homer was his third of the season, the most among MLB pitchers. It also matched the franchise homer record by a pitcher for a single season, which previously had been accomplished by Tom Seaver in 1972 and Walt Terrell in 1983.

          Syndergaard had a two-homer, four-RBI game against Kenta Maeda at Dodger Stadium on May 11 that lifted the Mets to a 4-3 win.

          "Last year our pitchers, they did a tremendous job offensively swinging the bats," manager Terry Collins said. "You could hit and run with those guys. You didn't have to bunt. They kept the defense on their toes. We're not swinging it quite as well this year, but Noah is dangerous. He's got huge power. Finally he got one. The way the game turned out, we needed it."

          Said Syndergaard: "I kind of watched it a little bit on that one."

          The Thor-infused offensive support Tuesday helped Syndergaard earn his first win since July 3. Beset by high pitch counts and uneven run support, Syndergaard had been 0-4 with a 3.78 ERA in his previous six starts.

          The Mets built a 7-1 lead, but had to hold on for the win to improve to 60-59 and stay three games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second wild-card spot. The Diamondbacks actually pulled within two runs and had a pair of baserunners in scoring position with two outs in the seventh, but Addison Reed coaxed an inning-ending groundout from Chris Owings. The Mets won for the first time in five games against Arizona this season.

          Syndergaard was charged with four runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks in 5⅔ innings. He was hurt by rookie third baseman T.J. Rivera's two errors during a three-run sixth. Rivera went 4-for-4 on Tuesday, but now has three errors in two games this series.

          Collins said Rivera merely needs to slow the game down and get his footwork set at third base.

          "He's just trying to get his feet on the ground," Collins said. "I think he's got a chance to hit. He's always hit. He's hit wherever he's been. He puts good at-bats on. One of the things they've told me about this guy, he puts the barrel on the baseball."

          On Rivera's fielding, Collins added: "The game's faster here. He's just got to slow it down a little bit and rely on a couple of things. He'll get it."

          Syndergaard (10-7) departed with runners on the corners and two outs in the sixth, after Rivera's throw to first base on Jean Segura's grounder was ruled late after a replay review and Segura was awarded an infield single. Jerry Blevins entered and struck out Michael Bourn to preserve a 7-4 lead.

          Syndergaard said he concentrated on using his legs more than he has in recent starts.

          "These past five says I've spent a lot of time on the mound in between starts trying to get back on track," Syndergaard said. "I felt like it was a step in the right direction."