PHOENIX — Nobody should appreciate a long road trip like Zack Wheeler.
The Mets rookie still hasn’t figured out how to perform at Citi Field, but put him on the road, and he is Matt Harvey-esque in his results.
Last night, the Mets received 6 1/3 strong innings from Wheeler and coupled it with a nail-biting but effective bullpen performance to beat the Diamondbacks 4-1 at Chase Field.
Wheeler (5-2) allowed one run on six hits and saw his ERA drop to 2.21 in six road appearances. It hasn’t gone nearly as smoothly for him at Citi Field, where in four starts he has pitched to a 6.20 ERA.
Maybe the best sign for Wheeler last night was he maintained his 95-mph heat from start to finish.
“I know it’s been dropping a little bit as I go later in the games,” Wheeler said after the Mets won for the fourth time in five games. “But I felt strong when I came out of there.”
The biggest out came after Wheeler had departed. Pedro Feliciano entered with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth and struck out Gerardo Parra to preserve the Mets’ three-run lead. LaTroy Hawkins then worked the ninth for his third save in as many chances since Bobby Parnell was placed on the disabled list.
Wheeler walked five batters in his previous start against the Royals, but was perfect in that category last night.
“If you don’t walk guys and you have his stuff, you’re going to win games,” manager Terry Collins said. “Hitting is hard, and hitting a guy with that kind of stuff is real hard.”
Wilmer Flores’ two-run single in the eighth provided the Mets with a much-needed cushion. The rookie drove in three runs and has eight RBIs in his first five games with the Mets.
The Mets also got a boost from Ike Davis, who finished 2-for-2 with two walks and a run scored.
Scott Rice had entered with the tying run on first base in the seventh and proceeded to load the bases with two outs before retiring Adam Eaton to keep the Mets’ lead at 2-1.
Wheeler cruised through six, but finally buckled in the seventh, surrendering a leadoff homer to Aaron Hill. It was Wheeler’s ninth homer allowed in 10 games this season, but his first in his last three road starts. Wil Nieves singled with one out against Wheeler, and Collins removed the right-hander at 106 pitches. Wheeler’s next start will come in San Diego on Friday.
Juan Lagares homered leading off the fourth for the game’s first run before Flores delivered an RBI single later in the inning to give the Mets a 2-0 lead against Brandon McCarthy.
The right-hander gave the Diamondbacks a chance by lasting seven innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
Davis’ two-out double ignited the rally for the second run. Flores then slapped a single to right. But the Mets’ chances of extending the lead died when Flores was thrown out trying to reach third on John Buck’s single. Flores more than compensated with his two-run single in the eighth.
“I’m still shaking a little bit,” Flores said, when asked about his comfort level. “I try to calm down myself a little bit and I think it’s working.”
Though Flores has just four hits in 19 at-bats (.211), he’s making them count. He’s also producing runs without hits.
“He doesn’t strike out,” Collins said. “You feel comfortable when he’s up there because you know he’s going to put the bat on the ball.”