Major League Baseball

Out at home: Murphy, Mets lose to Brewers 4-2

Published Sep. 28, 2013 1:35 a.m. ET

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The New York Mets are having so much trouble scoring at home that Daniel Murphy tried to steal a big run with his legs. When he hurdled himself into an easy out, that was their final threat of the game.

Norichika Aoki hit a leadoff homer against Carlos Torres, Khris Davis connected three batters later and Yovani Gallardo pitched the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-2 victory Friday night at Citi Field.

''Outhit `em, but a good poker hand: Six singles and two doubles gets beat by three homers anytime,'' New York manager Terry Collins said.

The punchless Mets played without All-Star third baseman David Wright, who sat out with a sore right thumb, and lost 4-2 to Milwaukee for the second consecutive night.

Martin Maldonado also went deep and Gallardo (12-10) tossed six solid innings to end his inconsistent season with a win. The right-hander, who won 33 games over the previous two years, finished 4-1 with a 2.41 ERA in eight starts since returning from a strained left hamstring.

Justin Turner knocked in a run with an infield single in the sixth that cut it to 3-2. New York had the bases loaded with one out, but Gallardo struck out Juan Lagares before Murphy attempted to score from third on a pitch in the dirt.

Maldonado blocked the ball in front of him and scrambled back in time to tag Murphy, who tried to leap over the catcher at home plate.

''Took a chance,'' Murphy said. ''It's two outs, two strikes right there. Gallardo's out pitch is a curveball and I was looking for a dirtball and I got one. I just didn't trust the first read and once I hesitated, I was out. Probably should have shut it down but I didn't.''

Brandon Kintzler worked a 1-2-3 eighth and Jim Henderson pitched a perfect ninth for his 28th save in 32 tries.

''We aren't driving in any runs. So he tried to make a big play and maybe ignite us a little bit,'' Collins said about Murphy. ''I don't have a problem with it. I really don't. I wish it would have been a little closer, maybe, than it was. But I understood. And he plays the game so hard. Tonight we had chances, didn't drive runs in, so he took a shot.''

New York fell to 32-47 at home, the second-worst mark in the National League. Only the Chicago Cubs (31-50) are worse.

''I think you have to look at everything, from the way the team is constructed to the type of player who can play here,'' general manager Sandy Alderson said during an in-game interview on SNY. ''It's something that absolutely has to be corrected.''

Wright was sidelined one night after he was hit in the helmet by an 86 mph changeup. The Mets reiterated that his head is fine - Wright said he passed all the concussion tests - but the medical staff recommended he rest his thumb for a day.

The star slugger jammed his thumb when he hit the dirt after he was plunked by a pitch from Johnny Hellweg.

Aoki sent the fourth pitch from Carlos Torres (4-6) to right field for his second career leadoff homer. Scooter Gennett struck out but reached on a wild pitch. One out later, Davis drove a hanging breaking ball to left.

Torres had a strange outing. He had retired nine straight batters when he heaved a ball into the upper reaches of the stands as he walked off the field following the fifth inning.

The right-hander also balked and caught a line drive that ricocheted up in the air after hitting him in the foot. X-rays were negative.

Torres has served up seven homers in his past three starts at Citi Field. Collins thought the pitcher lacked his normal command early in the game.

''He's usually down in the zone,'' Collins said.

Lagares hit a sacrifice fly in the second. Maldonado homered in the seventh off the facing of the second deck in left against Scott Atchison to make it 4-2.

The fourth-place Brewers have won three straight and five of six, giving them nine victories in their last 10 road games against New York.

NOTES: LHP Jonathon Niese (8-8) will start the season finale Sunday against Milwaukee RHP Marco Estrada (7-4), when the Mets will induct former slugger Mike Piazza into their Hall of Fame. ... Collins moved slumping 1B Lucas Duda up to second in the batting order because of his .352 on-base percentage. Duda doubled and singled, improving to 5 for 10 with two homers against Gallardo. ... Turner batted cleanup for the first time in his career, according to STATS. ... Before the game, the Mets honored their minor league players of the year at each level, including RHP Rafael Montero (Triple-A Las Vegas). ... Wright is 3 for 19 (.158) with a homer and eight strikeouts against Gallardo. ... Brewers prospect Jimmy Nelson makes his first major league start Saturday against RHP Aaron Harang. ... Davis left in the eighth with a tight left hamstring and strained right quadriceps.

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