NEW YORK -- David Wright, Yoenis Cespedes and Lucas Duda hit home runs in the first inning as the Mets teed off, sending Bartolo Colon and New York over the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Monday night for their ninth win in 10 games.
The Mets' homer barrage came in a span of 16 pitches. The Braves have hit just five homers all season, by far the fewest in the majors for the team with the worst record in the big leagues.
A few weeks shy of his 43rd birthday, Colon (2-1) pitched eight scoreless innings. He coasted to his 220th career victory, breaking a tie with Pedro Martinez for the second-most among Dominican-born pitchers and trailing only the 243 by Hall of Famer Juan Marichal.
Colon gave up seven hits, six in the first three innings, walked none and struck out seven. He threw 99 pitches -- 77 strikes -- in the longest outing by a Mets starter this year. He was 4-0 against Atlanta last season (see full recap).
Giants rally for win over Reds
CINCINNATI -- The Reds roughed up Johnny Cueto in his return to Great American Ball Park, but the San Francisco Giants rallied against Cincinnati's historically bad bullpen, riding Brandon Crawford's three-run homer to a 9-6 victory Monday night.
Joey Votto hit a three-run homer as the Reds piled up six runs in the third inning off Cueto, who got a warm welcome from his former teammates and fans before the game. It was Cueto's worst showing since he gave up eight runs during Kansas City's 11-8 loss at Toronto in the AL Championship Series last season.
The Reds' bullpen tied history while letting a 6-3 lead slip away.
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Brandon Belt and Gregor Blanco singled in runs off J.C. Ramirez (0-2) in the seventh. Crawford connected off Drew Hayes for his third homer and an 8-6 lead (see full recap).
Mazara HR gives Blue Jays win
TORONTO -- Nomar Mazara hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning and the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 on Monday night for their fifth win in six games.
In the bottom of the eighth, Mazara preserved the one-run lead by throwing out Michael Saunders at home plate to end the inning.
Tony Barnette (1-1) worked one inning for the win and Shawn Tolleson finished for his ninth save as the Rangers handed the Blue Jays their fourth consecutive home loss. It's Toronto's longest slump at Rogers Centre since a four-game skid from April 23-26, 2014.
Named the AL's top rookie in the month of April earlier Monday, Mazara broke a 1-1 tie with a shot to center off Gavin Floyd (0-2).
Brett Nicholas also homered as the Rangers took the opener of a four-game series between ALDS opponents from 2015 (see full recap).
