Travis d'Arnaud homers, Mets crush Phillies 7-1
By RACHEL COHEN, Associated Press
Jul 28, 2014 9:13 PM CDT
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher A. J. Burnett reacts, burying his face in his jersey after allowing a fifth-inning, three-run, home run to New York Mets Travis d'Arnaud in a baseball game against the New York Mets in New York, Monday, July 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)   (Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) — Travis d'Arnaud went 3 for 4 with a three-run homer, Bartolo Colon made his second straight strong start, and the New York Mets crushed the Philadelphia Phillies 7-1 on Monday night.

D'Arnaud hit one of three doubles for the Mets as they took a 4-0 lead in the first. Then the catcher's seventh home run of the season broke the game open in the fifth.

The 41-year-old Colon (10-8) retired the first 20 batters in his last outing Wednesday against Seattle, eventually allowing two runs on three hits in 7 1-3 innings in a 3-2 win. He wasn't as dominant Monday. But staked to a big lead, he was never in much trouble either, scattering 10 hits over 7 2-3 innings.

With the Mets up 7-0 in the sixth, the Phillies loaded the bases after umpire Jerry Meals ruled that Daniel Murphy's foot didn't touch the bag on a two-out force play at second base. New York challenged, and the call stood on review.

But Colon promptly struck out Cody Asche to end the threat. The big right-hander was taken out after 121 pitches upon allowing his only run on consecutive two-out doubles in the eighth.

A.J. Burnett (6-10), like Colon a veteran who could attract suitors before Thursday's trade deadline, also was coming off a stellar outing. But after throwing 131 pitches Wednesday, one shy of his career high, Burnett got off to a shaky start this time.

Curtis Granderson walked to open the bottom of the first, and Murphy drove him in with a double. Lucas Duda had an RBI single and Juan Lagares a two-run double later in the inning.

Burnett settled down, retiring 11 of the next 13 batters with four strikeouts. But with two outs in the fifth, he walked Duda. Chris Young singled, then d'Arnaud made it 7-0.

Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz was 4 for 4 with Philadelphia's only RBI.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: Lefty reliever Dana Eveland was taken out after he appeared to be hit on his pitching elbow by Ben Revere's hard comebacker in the ninth. Manager Terry Collins said RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, who went on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation Saturday, was feeling better and should be able to start playing catch by the end of the week.

ON DECK

LHP Cole Hamels (5-5) starts for the Phillies against Mets RHP Dillon Gee (4-3) on Tuesday night in the middle of the three-game series.

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