USA TODAY Sports

The Mets (80-46) took down the Rockies (54-71) by a 3-1 margin on Thursday evening at Citi Field. The triumph was backed by strong outings from Jacob deGrom, Seth Lugo, Edwin Diaz and Adam Ottavino, who combined to strike out 14. In the race for the NL East, New York now sits two games ahead of the Atlanta Braves in the division with 36 to play.

DeGrom earned the win as the starter for New York after tossing six innings of one-run ball, with just three hits allowed and nine strikeouts. He is now tied for third in MLB history for the most consecutive starts of allowing three runs or fewer with 36, among Jim Scott (39), Ray Washburn (38) and Claude Osteen (36).

The starter was perfect in retiring the first 13 Colorado batters until allowing an infield single in the fifth inning, followed by a double to put two runners in scoring position with one out. He put the next two batters away via strikeout and line out to get out of the inning.

DeGrom’s only run allowed came in the sixth when the Rockies’ Ryan McMahon knocked a solo home run. He was lifted for Seth Lugo following the inning after tossing 87 pitches, 62 for strikes.

Lugo got into trouble in the seventh and loaded the bases after giving up a pair of singles and a walk. With two outs, the right-hander struck out Ryan McMahon swinging on a fastball to escape the jam.

Edwin Diaz tossed a scoreless eighth with one hit, one walk, and one strikeout. Adam Ottavino entered in the ninth to cap the night and earned his first save of the year, adding a strikeout.

At the plate, New York notched eight hits and went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position with nine left on base. The Mets picked up all three of the club’s runs in the third inning. Tomas Nido and Brandom Nimmo led off the inning with a pair of singles, and Francisco Lindor grounded out and drove in the catcher. Pete Alonso followed with a two-run homer to left center for his 31st of the season.

Player of the Game

Alonso earns Thursday’s honor a 2-for-4 appearance at the plate, a home run that ultimately ended up the game winner, and 2 RBIs.

On Deck

New York will face the Rockies on Friday evening at Citi Field in the second of the four game series.

Chris Bassitt (11-7, 3.26 ERA) will face off against Chad Kuhl (6-7, 5.16 ERA).

In his last outing, Bassitt tossed six innings against Philadelphia and allowed two runs on seven hits, with four strikeouts. Kuhl last faced the Padres on August 3 and gave up nine runs, eight hits, and struck out four over five innings pitched. The right-hander is making his return from the IL after being sidelined with a hip strain.

Fans can catch the action at 7:10 p.m. ET on SNY or WCBS 880.