Mets winning streak reaches six as Bartolo Colon improves to 3-0

Take a look around the league with Big League Stew’s daily wrap up. We’ll hit on all of the biggest moments from the day that you may have missed, while providing highlights, photos and interesting stats.

It’s not surprising that the New York Mets are an improved team in 2015. It is, however, quite surprising that they’ve taken to winning so quickly.

With a 4-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night, the Mets have run their early season winning streak to six, and their overall record to 8-3, which is good enough for first place in the NL East.

Starting pitcher Bartolo Colon has been a catalyst for New York’s fast start, though would you believe his contributions haven’t been limited to just pitching? After going 10 seasons without an RBI, Colon has driven in a run in each of his last two starts, including a game-tying sacrifice fly on Friday.

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The hill is where Colon makes his money though, and he earned his keep there with seven innings of one-run ball. He struck out six and improved to 3-0

At the plate, Michael Cuddyer led the way with two hits, including the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth. Eric Campbell and Daniel Murphy knocked in New York’s insurance tallies.

Now we’re just left to wonder if the Mets can make it seven straight on Saturday. The pitching matchup would seem to be in their favorite, as young right-hander Jacob deGrom takes on a scuffling Mat Latos. 

BRAVES OUTSLUG JAYS IN TORONTO
In a game that featured seven home runs, including five from the Toronto Blue Jays, the Atlanta Braves were able to escape with an 8-7 victory on Friday night.

The Braves were actually late arrivals to the impromptu home run derby, waiting until the eighth inning before delivering their two long balls. Pinch-hitter Jonny Gomes hit the first to break the tie. Freddie Freeman later added a two-run shot which proved to be necessary insurance after the Blue Jays rallied for two in their half. Jason Grilli closed things down in the ninth, improving to 5 for 5 in save opportunities.

Another offseason addition, outfielder Nick Markakis, also paid big dividends going a perfect 4 for 4 at the dish with a walk. He scored three runs.

For Toronto, Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson each homered twice. Rookie Devon Travis added his third home run.

OVER IN A PLOUFFE
For five innings on Friday night, it was questionable whether or not the Minnesota Twins offense could muster even a single baserunner against reigning AL Cy Young award winner Corey Kluber. Oswaldo Arica put those questions to bed with a single leading off the sixth, and three batters later the game was actually tied when Chris Herrmann slid home on a wild pitch.

From there, both offenses continued scuffling as the bullpens took over, but the game ultimately ended with a bang. Or as it’s called in Minnesota, a Plouffe, as Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe connected for a walkoff homer against Bryan Shaw.

The 3-2 victory was Minnesota’s third straight. As for Plouffe, it was his only hit in a suprisingly uneventful game.

Interesting that on the night Plouffe was the walk-off hero, he didn’t have a single ball hit to him at third base. #MNTwins

— Tyler Mason (@FSNtylermason) April 18, 2015

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JOSH COLLMENTOR OVERPOWERS THE GIANTS
Just when you thought the rough start to the San Francisco Giants season couldn’t get any worse, they ran into Josh Collmenter.

The Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander was dominanted on Friday, tossing his second career complete shutout in the D-Backs 9-0 victory.

Collmenter allowed just four hits and walked one. He struck out only, which helped keep his pitch count reasonable and allowed manager Chip Hale to rest his bullpen following Thursday’s 12-inning game.

The four hits, by the way, were just one more than Collmenter had himself at the plate. He 3 for 5 with an RBI and run scored. Overall, Arizona had 18 hits, including four from A.J. Pollack.

As for San Francisco, they’ve now lost eight in a row overall and 0-5 during their seven-game homestand against Colorado and Arizona. They’ll have to find some offense quickly if they hope to reverse the odd-year curse.  

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813