PHOENIX — The rust was evident, but this wasn’t a day for the Mets to critique Jon Niese as much as welcome him back.
When the team had last seen the lefty in action a little over seven weeks ago, he was departing a game in Atlanta with shoulder “tendinitis” that was actually a partially torn rotator cuff, making his chances of a 2013 return uncertain.
But the return came yesterday, when Niese gave the Mets six respectable innings in a 9-5 victory over the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Niese (4-6) allowed a three-run homer to Aaron Hill in the third inning as part of a performance in which he surrendered four earned runs on seven hits and one walk for his first victory since May 16. He was removed after 83 pitches, striking out the final two batters he faced, Cliff Pennington and Jason Kubel.
“There is nothing like pitching in the big leagues, and it’s just good to get back out there with all the guys,” Niese said.
The Mets (54-61) won for the fifth time in six games and finished with a series victory over the Diamondbacks. The next stop is Los Angeles, for a three-game series that begins tonight against the NL West-leading Dodgers.
In the grand scheme, Niese could be the Mets’ No. 4 starter, behind the righty triumvirate of Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler and Noah Syndergaard (currently at Double-A Binghamton). The Mets value Niese as a dependable lefty in an organization deep in pitching talent that is almost exclusively right-handed.
“This guy is a huge piece of our rotation, a huge piece of this team,” manager Terry Collins said. “We missed him when he was gone.”
Niese was named the Mets’ Opening Day starter when it became evident Johan Santana, who later needed season-ending surgery, wouldn’t be ready. Niese struggled with his consistency before hitting the DL on June 21. Collins said Niese wasn’t helped by games he pitched in frigid conditions at Minnesota and Colorado in April that might have put extra strain on his arm. But yesterday Niese had the luxury of a climate-controlled indoor setting, escaping the brutal Arizona heat.
“I thought later in the game his cutter started working better, his two-seamer was better,” Collins said. “I thought he got comfortable and I thought he threw the ball real well. I was very happy with the way he threw it.”
Niese said it might have been the first game he pitched without soreness in his shoulder since April.
“It’s a relief, obviously a step in the right direction,” he said.
Ike Davis continued his recent surge by reaching base in four of five plate appearances, including three walks. On Saturday he reached base four times, twice by walks.
The thunder came from Andrew Brown, who smashed a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the seventh against Will Harris. In the ninth, rookie Wilmer Flores connected against Heath Bell for his first major league homer. It gave Flores nine RBIs in six games since arriving from Triple-A Las Vegas last week.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Flores said. “I’m so glad to be here and just trying to keep doing the work.”
Brown’s homer in the seventh gave the Mets plenty of cushion. Davis walked for the third time and Flores singled before Brown unloaded for his second pinch-hit homer this season.
The Mets sent eight batters to the plate in the first inning against Zeke Spruill and gave Niese a quick four-run lead. The big play was Paul Goldschmidt’s fielding error on Mike Baxter’s grounder with the bases loaded that allowed three runs to score. Anthony Recker’s ensuing RBI double gave the Mets a 4-0 lead.
“It’s just sound baseball right now and we’re coming up with some big hits when we need it,” Davis said. “It was a good series for us and definitely on the road and beating a good team.”