Major League Baseball

Athletics-Mets Preview

Published Jun. 25, 2014 12:28 a.m. ET

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The New York Mets used a pitcher the Oakland Athletics discarded after last season to win their series opener.

The hot-hitting Mets now try for a season-best fourth straight win and two-game home sweep Wednesday night behind a pitcher that's coming off the best start of his career.

Bartolo Colon beat his former team 10-1 on Tuesday as the Mets (36-41) won for the fifth time in six games. They've scored at least 10 runs in two straight for the first time since June 28 and 29, 2011. They've never done it in three straight.

Chris Young homered twice, newly recalled catcher Travis d'Arnaud hit a three-run shot and David Wright tied a career high with an RBI in his seventh straight game after managing one in 13 games prior to the streak. Young hadn't homered in his previous 21 contests while rumors of his time with the club ending swirled.

D'Arnaud had gone 4 for 38 in 12 games prior to his June 7 demotion.

Curtis Granderson also homered for the Mets' fifth four-homer game at Citi Field since it opened in 2009. Only San Diego and San Francisco have hit fewer home runs in their own parks since the start of that season.

"We knew we had some power. We didn't know how much," manager Terry Collins told MLB's official website. "We hadn't hit for any power in the first 75 games. To see the power come out now, it's nice to see. All we can do is sit back and knock on wood that it keeps up."

Zack Wheeler (3-7, 3.98 ERA) takes the mound after throwing his first career complete game in Thursday's 1-0 win in Miami. Wheeler struck out eight and walked one in the three-hitter to snap a two-start skid in which he had allowed eight runs in 8 2-3 innings.

He had one victory in his previous 11 starts.

"I know I can do it every time out," Wheeler said. "I know I have the stuff. Kind of feels good to go out there and do it and be efficient."

Wheeler has never faced the A's and is 0-2 with a 6.86 ERA in four interleague starts.

Oakland (47-30), which next travels to Miami, is second in the majors with a 16-8 record in interleague games since the start of last season.

Wheeler will be opposed by Brad Mills, who has never faced an NL opponent.

Mills (0-0, 4.50) lasted only four innings in his A's debut, allowing three runs - two earned - while walking four and throwing 94 pitches in Friday's 4-3 home win over Boston.

He'll be trying to pick up an Oakland team that has allowed 17 runs and 25 hits in back-to-back losses. After Tuesday's four-hit effort, the A's - who average more than five runs per game - have scored 3.5 a contest over their last six.

Oakland activated outfielder Josh Reddick from the disabled list prior to Tuesday's game and placed first baseman Kyle Blanks on the DL with a left calf strain. Reddick went 0 for 2 and has gone 4 for 35 over his last 11 contests, though he went 7 for 16 in a minor league rehab stint.

"He took it very seriously what we said to him about not just getting your at-bats and getting your work in and expecting to get called back up, but going down and performing," manager Bob Melvin said.

Oakland catcher Derek Norris remained sidelined after leaving Sunday's game when he was hit in the head with a backswing.

New York has won seven of eight against the A's.

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