Kathy Willens/Associated Press<br><br>Wilmer Flores got a sunflower shower after hitting a sacrifice fly that gave the Mets a win over the Rockies.
Kathy Willens/Associated Press<br><br>Wilmer Flores got a sunflower shower after hitting a sacrifice fly that gave the Mets a win over the Rockies.

Instead, they ended up with another demoralizing loss.

Curtis Granderson hit a tying triple off former Met LaTroy Hawkins and scored two pitches later on Wilmer Flores’ sacrifice fly, giving New York a 3-2 win and dropping the Rockies to 59-85 – the worst record in the National League.

“I threw six fastballs, and three of them got hit,” said Hawkins. “Sometimes they’re going to hit those balls on the ground. Sometimes they’re going to find holes.”

After Lucas Duda’s run-scoring double in the first, Lyles, Tommy Kahnle, Brooks Brown and Christian Friedrich pitched shutout ball through the eighth.

Travis d’Arnaud doubled leading off the ninth against Hawkins (3-3), who blew a save for the third time in 25 chances.

Granderson’s triple past right fielder Charlie Blackmon scored pinch-runner Eric Young Jr. Granderson then scored easily ahead of Drew Stubbs’ off-line throw on Flores’ fly to center.

Carlos Torres (7-5) pitched a perfect ninth for the Mets, who wore camouflage jerseys as they started a 10-game homestand.

Cuddyer tied the score in the second with his seventh home run. Activated before the game, Cuddyer had been on the disabled list since Aug. 24 because of a strained left hamstring, his third DL stint this season.

“I was able to get a good pitch to hit and fortunately I didn’t miss it,” said Cuddyer.

Arenado homered off a Vic Black changeup on an 0-2 pitch leading off the eighth for a 2-1 lead.

Mets starter Jonathon Niese allowed one run and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, struck out seven and walked one. His curveball was hit-or-miss at times.

“There was some that were good and some that were not so good,” said Niese. “Fortunately the good ones I was able to get outs on, and the bad ones they did not crush like they probably should have.”

Although admittedly not feeling great, Lyles gave up only one run and three hits in six innings.

“Just physically I don’t think I was there where I usually am, but we can’t complain with a quality start,” he said. “Michael (McKenry) kept me in there. We threw what we had tonight and their guys made me throw a lot of pitches early on, and when they swung it they hit it hard at people.”

Kahnle, a 25-year-old rookie from Latham, New York, pitched a perfect seventh for Colorado.

Rockies rumpus

C Wilin Rosario, activated Sunday after a stint on the DL caused by left wrist inflammation, pinch hit in the seventh and remained in the game at catcher. He was 0-for-2. “I’m going to ease him in this series,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said before the game. “I look at his situation a little bit different as a catcher.” … Charlie Blackmon and 1B Justin Morneau, who leads the NL with a .316 batting average, were not in the starting lineup. “They’ve been going at it pretty good,” Weiss said. “It seemed like a good time to give them a day.” … Rookie RHP Christian Bergman (2-2) will start Tuesday and will be looking to win for the third time in four outings since returning from a broken left hand on Aug. 24. … RHP Jacob deGrom (7-6) faces Colorado for the first time. He has not allowed an earned run in 14 innings. … The Rockies announced their tentative 2015 schedule. The team opens the season with a three-game set in Milwaukee beginning on April 6, returning to Denver on Friday, April 10 to take on the Cubs in their home opener. Following the Cubs series, Colorado plays 25 straight games against other NL West clubs. The team’s interleague schedule includes series against all five AL West teams, beginning on May 12-13 with two games against the Angels in Anaheim, California. … The Rockies have lost four straight at Citi Field, last winning in Queens on Aug. 23, 2012.