MILWAUKEE — The last time Tom Gorzelanny was pulled from the bullpen for a spot start, he was good, allowing just a run on five hits in four innings.
Filling in for Wily Peralta on Sunday, Gorzelanny was even better, striking out eight and scattering eight hits over six innings.
Unfortunately, two errors by Juan Francisco led to two New York runs as the Mets beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 2-1, at Miller Park on Sunday.
Both runs were unearned and spoiled what had been a pleasantly surprising day for the Brewers and Gorzelanny, who struck out six of eight batters at one point and finished with his highest single-game total since he struck out nine Aug. 21, 2010.
“It was a little shocking to have that many that early but I kept going with it and trying to get ahead,” Gorzelanny said. “Getting to two strikes, I was just trying make good pitches and have them put it on the ground but fortunately I missed some bats.” Gorzelanny has allowed just one earned run in his two starts this season while striking out 11 in 10 innings, leading Brewers manager Ron Roenicke to consider moving the left-hander into his rotation for the near future.
“After that outing, there is (reason to put him in the rotation),” Roenicke said. “We will regroup after the break and try and get our starting pitching on line. We had planned to move Donny Hand back until that Friday, maybe it’s Gorzo that does it. We can use Donny in the bullpen the next couple of days and then we’ll see what we will do.
In 27 games with the Brewers this season, Francisco has played just three at third — where he had made all 119 of his previous career defensive appearances and was regarded as a good fielder when dealt by Atlanta.
“We heard the same thing,” said Roenicke. I haven’t seen him enough before (the trade) to really make an evaluation on him. What was that, the third game we’ve had him over there? You get a guy over there more often and he gets used to it. Plus, you never get to work on those kinds of plays. I think that makes it tougher when you are not there every day.”
The Mets got on the board in the fourth when Josh Satin doubled into center. Satin scored on the next play as Francisco’s throw to first on Andrew Brown’s grounder to third was wide.
New York added another in the sixth, again thanks to a Francisco error.
David Wright opened the inning with a groundout to short. Marlon Byrd was next and singled to third. He advanced to second when Francisco’s throw again went wide of first baseman Sean Halton.
Byrd gave the Mets a 2-0 lead on Satin’s double — his third of three hits on the day.
Those two runs would be enough for New York starter Jeremy Hefner, who allowed two hits and a walk over seven innings while striking out eight and hitting a batter.
“He’s pitching much better inside,” Collins said. “I think he’s proven himself.”
In his last eight starts, Hefner (4-6) is 4-1 with a 1.27 ERA.
“Preparing the right way and hard work, that’s kind of been it,” Hefner said. “The mechanical adjustment has been key but the defense behind me has been outstanding.
“I know that I’m good enough to be here and to get these hitters out.”
Hefner’s only mistake came in the seventh, when Jonathan Lucroy hit his 10th homer of the season, a solo shot to center making it a 2-1 game.
New York’s Josh Edgin got the first two outs in the eighth before Norichika Aoki drew an infield single. Bobby Parnell came on and stranded Aoki before working around a two-out walk to Francisco to earn his 15th save of the season.
NOTES: New York manager Terry Collins said Shaun Marcum could miss his next start after experiencing “numbness and tingling” during his start Saturday against the Brewers. The Mets have an off-day before the All-Star break, which would allow them to use Marcum out of the bullpen or rest him entirely until the second half. … Roenicke said LF Ryan Braun, out since June 10 with a sore right hand, could return next weekend when the Brewers travel to Arizona. Braun reported no setbacks after taking batting practice Saturday.