Frazier homers twice, Mets top Brewers 6-5 to win 9th in row

   NEW YORK (AP) -- Todd Frazier hit his first two home runs with the Mets, new catcher Jose Lobaton tripled in his first at-bat with the team, and New York extended its winning streak to nine with a 6-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

   Steven Matz ended an 11-start winless streak dating to June 28 as New York improved to 11-1 under new manager Mickey Callaway, the best start in team history. The Mets are on their longest winning streak since 11 consecutive victories from April 12-23, 2015.

   Mets players are celebrating throughout games with a salt-and-pepper shaker motion promoted by Frazier to signify their grinding approach. The gregarious New Jerseyite popularized a thumbs-down salute with the Yankees last year after he homered during a Tampa Bay-Yankees game moved to Citi Field and a Mets fan was caught making the motion to him.

   Frazier homered leading off the second and fourth innings against Zach Davies (0-2). He also singled and walked.

   Signed after a successful run with the crosstown Yankees during the second half of last season, Frazier connected for the first time in his 37th at-bat with the Mets, a drive to center off the housing of the Home Run Apple.

   After Hernan Perez tied the score with a two-run homer in the fourth against Matz (1-1), Frazier lined a home run to left to put the Mets ahead for good in the bottom half. New York opened a 6-2 lead in the fifth, which included Jay Bruce's RBI double, Adrian Gonzalez's sacrifice fly and Dan Jennings' run-scoring wild pitch.

   Matz, who had lost seven straight decisions, yielded Ryan Braun's two-run homer in the sixth after Bruce allowed Domingo Santana's leadoff fly to fall for an error. Matz gave up four runs -- three earned -- and three hits in 5 1/3 innings.

   Seth Lugo allowed Travis Shaw's eighth-inning homer, and Robert Gsellman retired Jett Bandy on an inning-ending comebacker. Jeurys Familia got three straight outs to remain perfect in seven save chances and deal the Brewers their first loss in six one-run games this year.

   Lobaton came up from Triple-A Las Vegas to help fill the catching void created when Travis d'Arnaud tore a ligament in his right elbow, which will require season-ending Tommy John surgery, and Kevin Plawecki went on the disabled list with a broken left hand, an injury sustained Wednesday when he was hit by a pitch. Plawecki is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks, and Lugo will split time behind the plate with rookie Tomas Nido.

   Lobaton tripled in the second past a diving Ryan Braun down the left-field line. It was his fourth big league triple and first since April 22, 2016. He became the first Mets player to triple in his first at-bat with the team since pitcher Eric Cammack at the Florida Marlins on July 5, 2000 -- his only big league plate appearance.

   Davies, a 17-game winner last year, needed 64 pitches to get through three innings and gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. He fell behind in the first when Yoenis Cespedes hit an RBI single.

   CAIN IS ABLE

   Brewers CF Lorenzo Cain returned after missing two games because of a strained left quadriceps and went 1 for 2 with a pair of walks on his 32nd birthday. He was shaken up when Santana ranged over from right to catch Bruce's sacrifice fly and collided with him. Cain reached on an infield hit in the seventh -- Frazier's backhand snag at third saved a double -- and then was thrown out by Cespedes trying to go from first to third on Santana's single to left.

   FASHION FOCUS

   Mets outfielder Michael Conforto wore socks sporting the New York City skyline.

   TRAINER'S ROOM

   Brewers: OF Christian Yelich (right oblique) hit in a batting cage and hopes to be activated Sunday, the first day he is eligible. ... C Manny Pina missed his second straight game because of right calf tightness.

Share this article:
Sign up for the Sports Newsletter