Stroman leads Mets over Rockies 1-0 in doubleheader opener

NEW YORK -- — Marcus Stroman ended a six-start winless streak, allowing three hits over six innings to lead the New York Mets over the Colorado Rockies 1-0 Thursday in a doubleheader opener.

José Peraza homered leading off the third inning, and the Mets won their second straight over Colorado. The Rockies dropped to 3-19 with eight shutout losses on the road, a sharp contrast from their 16-12 record and at mile-high Coors Field, where they have scored in every game.

Stroman (4-4) had been 0-4 since winning in Denver on April 18. He struck out three and walked two, lowering his ERA to 2.47. Stroman pitched at least six innings for the fourth straight start and the seventh time this season.

A 2017 AL Gold Glove winner, he helped himself out in the fifth inning, when he raced to field a bunt up the third-base line and threw out Garrett Hampson by a step.

Edwin Diaz got three straight outs to remain perfect in nine save chances. Under pandemic rules, each game was shortened to seven innings.

New York pitched its fourth shutout this season.

Joey Lucchesi (1-3) started the second game for the Mets and Antonio Senzatela (1-4) for the Rockies.

Before the doubleheader, Mets manager Luis Rojas announced right-hander Noah Syndergaard's return from Tommy John surgery will be delayed beyond June. Sundergaard, rehabilitating from the operation on March 26 last year, had an MRI that revealed right elbow inflammation and was told not to throw for six weeks.

New York also is missing right-hander right-hander Carlos Carrasco, sidelined until late June or early July by a strained right hamstring that has kept him out since spring training,

Peraza's home run, on a first-pitch slider, was one of only three hits for the Mets off Germán Márquez (3-5), who struck out eight, walked one and needed just 62 pitches for his third complete game in 117 big league starts.

Márquez pitched a two-hitter in a seven-inning complete game that beat the Mets 7-2 on April 17 and threw a one-hit, nine-inning shutout at San Francisco on April 14, 2019.

Márquez also singled in the fifth for Colorado’s second hit.

Ryan McMahon had a single and a stolen base for the Rockies.

MCCANN CAN

James McCann, who never played first base as a professional before starting there in Monday’s series opener, had a pair of unassisted putouts in the first inning and ranged into the hole to snare a grounder by Raimel Tapia in the third and tossed to Stroman at first, who caught the ball and stepped on the base in one motion. Tapia was ruled safe by umpire Shane Livensparger, but the call was reversed in a video review.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: LHP Ben Bowden (shoulder) is scheduled to begin a rehab stint Thursday with Triple-A Albuquerque. He was placed on the IL May 16. ... Márquez was hit in the midsection by a Francisco Lindor comebacker in the sixth inning but threw to first for the second out and remained in the game after a handful of warmup pitches.

Mets: 1B/LF Dominic Smith (bruised left knee) did not play in the opener. Rojas said Smith, who was injured Tuesday, was available off the bench. … RHP Taijuan Walker (right side) participated in a throwing session Thursday and could be activated off the IL when eligible Friday.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Jon Gray (4-4, 3.43 ERA) starts Friday's series opener at Pittsburgh.

Mets: Walker (3-1, 2.05 ERA) appeared likely to start Friday against Atlanta.

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