NEW YORK — Jacob deGrom threw seven shutout innings on Wednesday night and combined with a pair of relievers on a three-hitter as the New York Mets beat the Colorado Rockies 3-0 at Citi Field.
Third baseman Juan Uribe and first baseman Michael Cuddyer delivered back-to-back, two-out RBI hits in the fourth inning for the Mets (62-52), who won their third straight and tied a season high by moving 10 games above .500.
The win ensured the Mets will remain at least 2 1/2 games ahead of the Washington Nationals in the National League East. The Nationals faced the Los Angeles Dodgers later Wednesday.
The Rockies (47-65) fell a season-worst 18 games below .500 with their 10th loss in 14 games.
DeGrom (11-6) was not at his best — he walked four, as many walks as he issued in his last five starts combined — but allowed just two hits and struck out 10 as he lowered his ERA to 2.02, the second-best mark in baseball behind Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke (1.65).
The Rockies only mounted one serious threat against deGrom. Second baseman D.J. LeMahieu hit a ground-rule double leading off the fifth and stole third as catcher Michael McHenry drew a walk.
After deGrom struck out left fielder Brandon Barnes, left-handed pitcher Jorge De La Rosa laid down a suicide squeeze. But LeMahieu, who was halfway down the line when Uribe fielded the ball, retreated as Uribe threw out De La Rosa. DeGrom then struck out center fielder Charlie Blackmon.
Right-hander Tyler Clippard threw a perfect eighth and right-hander Jeurys Familia posted his 32nd save with a one-hit ninth for the Mets, whose pitchers have not allowed a run in the last 23 innings.
De La Rosa (7-5) didn’t allow a hit until Mets center fielder Juan Lagares led off the fourth with a double. Lagares went to third on a groundout by right fielder Curtis Granderson. After left fielder Yoenis Cespedes grounded out to third, Uribe doubled to deep center to bring home Lagares. Uribe scored on Cuddyer’s single up the middle.
Cespedes hit his first homer as a member of the Mets in the eighth.
De La Rosa allowed the two runs, four hits and two walks while striking out seven in six innings.
NOTES: The Mets recalled C Anthony Recker from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned C Kevin Plawecki to the same affiliate. Manager Terry Collins said bringing back Recker, the Mets’ backup catcher most of the last three seasons, is an indication that C Travis d’Arnaud is ready to play almost every day. D’Arnaud has played only 27 games this season due to two stints on the disabled list. … Mets 1B Lucas Duda (back) was out of the lineup for a second straight day. … The Rockies purchased the contract of 1B/OF Matt McBride from Triple-A Colorado Springs and designated for assignment OF Drew Stubbs. … Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa made his 211th major league start Wednesday. The rest of the Rockies’ rotation — RHP Eddie Butler, LHP Yohan Flande, RHP Jon Gray and LHP Chris Rusin — have combined for just 66 big league starts.