MIAMI -- Helped by a couple of small victories against Giancarlo Stanton, Steven Matz earned a big win for the New York Mets.Matz pitched six innings Sunday for his first win since May, twice escaping trouble by getting Stanton to ground out with a runner in scoring position, and the Mets took the rubber game of their series against Miami, 3-0.It was good to go out there and put up zeroes and get a win, Matz said.The Mets won two of three games in the series and returned home trailing second-place Miami by half a game in the NL East.This was crunch time for us, manager Terry Collins said. We couldnt lose any more ground. This was a good series for us to win.Matz (8-6) allowed four hits, walked two and struck out six. Pitching despite a bone spur in his elbow, he had been 0-5 in his past nine starts with an ERA of 4.73.He retired the Marlins in order only once, but twice ended threats by retiring Stanton, who has six homers against the Mets this month.It was just not giving in, not giving him that good pitch that he can hit, Matz said.Matz had help in the first inning from an unlikely source. Michael Conforto, starting in center field for the first time as a professional, sprinted to left and made a diving catch and rob leadoff hitter Miguel Rojas.Conforto also went 2 for 2 before being replaced in the seventh. Collins breathed a sigh of relief that the experiment started well.Hes here because he can hit, Collins said. If we dont play him in center field, we have no place to play him. Were not going to find out if he can play center until we get him out there.Jose Reyes drove in the first run with a two-out RBI triple in the third inning. Reyes, who joined the Mets this month, had five hits in the series to raise his average to .242.This guy is going to help us, Collins said. When he gets 150 at-bats, you are going to see a dynamic leadoff hitter.Yoenis Cespedes and James Loney contributed consecutive RBI singles in the eighth.Miami drew consolation from an encouraging start by Jose Urena (1-2), who allowed only one run in six innings. It was the right-handers second start this season after being recalled from Triple-A, and he could become a fixture in the Marlins thin rotation.They lost a starter when left-hander Wei-Yin Chen went on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained elbow. The move was announced after the game.We dont feel like its anything crazy, but we also want to be cautious, manager Don Mattingly said.Matz, who beat Miami for the first time in four career starts, helped the Mets notch their ninth shutout this year. He retired the side in order only once but didnt allow any extra-base hits.Thats probably the best Ive seen him, Mattingly said.His fastball had late life, Collins said. He had a lot of swings and misses on his fastball. His changeup and curve ball he threw for strikes.Three relievers completed a five-hitter, and Jeurys Familiar pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 51st consecutive save, tied for the third-longest in major league history. He has 35 saves this year, most in the majors.A wild pitch on a strikeout helped the Mets in the eighth, when Alejandro De Aza reached that way to lead off. New York went on to score twice in the inning and won with just six hits.SUZUKI UPDATEThe Marlins Ichiro Suzuki, who didnt start in the series, struck out as a pinch hitter in the seventh and remained four hits shy of 3,000.UP NEXTMets: They begin a nine-game homestand Monday, when RHP Noah Syndergaard (9-4, 2.43) is scheduled to pitch against Cardinals RHP Carlos Martinez (9-6, 2.83). The Marlins start a three-game series Monday against the Phillies.Miami: RHP Jarred Cosart will be recalled from New Orleans to start Monday in place of Chen against the Philadelphia Phillies and RHP Jeremy Hellickson (7-7, 3.84). Wholesale Rockies Jerseys ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. Cheap Rockies Jerseys . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. https://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.us/ . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. Colorado Rockies Gear . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Colorado Rockies Shirts . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. CINCINNATI -- Anthony Rizzo saw the ball ricochet across the outfield and kicked his legs into high gear, deciding he was going to try to touch `em all. His sides were aching by the time he slid safely into home plate.Rizzo legged out his first inside-the-park homer on Wednesday -- a fitting final touch to a series full of unusual moments -- and the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-2 for a three-game sweep that put them back on solid footing after a rough stretch.They were on top of it, man, after a long one last night, Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks said.The Cubs went 1-6 last week, hurt by an injury-depleted lineup and a balky bullpen. With thousands of Cubs fans in the stands at Great American Ball Park for each game, they pulled off an invigorating sweep.The NL Central leaders won the opener 11-8 as Kris Bryant became the first major leaguer with three homers and two doubles in a game. They won 7-2 in 15 innings Tuesday night in a game that featured Javier Baezs grand slam and three relievers playing left field alternately.Manager Joe Maddon went with a lot of his young backups after the long night. They piled up a dozen hits and made impressive plays all over the field.A bunch of babies played in that game today, Maddon said. They were inexperienced, they were young, and they came out and played hard and played well.There was more wackiness, too.Rizzo drove in three runs in the first inning off left-hander Cody Reed (0-2) with the Cubs first inside-the-park homer since 2011, when Tony Campana circled the bases against Cincinnati. Left fielder Adam Duvall cut in front of center fielder Billy Hamilton but couldnt get to the ball, which deflected off Hamiltons cheek.Rizzo couldnt remember the last time he circled the bases that way.Maybe Little League? he said. Nothing like that. Ill take it.Hamilton left the game to get tested for a concussion. He missed a week earlier this month after suffering a concussion when he slid into third base and got hit in the head.We both called for it at the same time, Duvall said. I thought we were going to collide. I didnt take my eye off the ball, but I mightve flinched a little bit. It hit him pretty good. It ended up rolling pretty far.Hendricks (6-6) gave up Duvalls 22nd homer annd went 6 2/3 innings, throwing 117 pitches to rest a bullpen worn out from pitching and playing the outfield.dddddddddddd He also drove in a run with a squeeze bunt.Hendricks didnt get to play the outfield, though -- not this time, anyway.The way things are going, you never know, he said.Addison Russell and Albert Almora Jr. had solo shots for the Cubs, who hit 10 homers during the series. Baez had three more hits on Wednesday. Rizzos homer gave him a 10-game hitting streak during which hes gone 17 for 36.The Cubs have the major leagues best record at 51-26. Theyre 9-1 against the Reds this season and have won 12 of their last 13 against their NL Central rival.The Cubs 27 runs in the series matched their second-highest total of the season for a three-game stretch.They also turned in more good defensive plays. Right fielder Ben Zobrist threw out Joey Votto at the plate as he tried to score from second on Jay Bruces single in the third.SLAMMEDResearch into Baezs 15th-inning slam found that it was the latest by inning in Cubs history. Also, it was only the third in baseball history to happen in the 15th inning or later. New Yorks Tino Martinez hit one in the 15th in 1996, and Bostons Clyde Vollmer hit one in the 16th inning in 1951, according to STATS information provided by the team. The Cubs hadnt scored five runs so late in a game since 1927.TRAINERS ROOMCubs: Maddon gave LHP Travis Wood the day off after he played left field and pitched in relief Tuesday night.Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips was in the lineup despite getting hit in the ribs and taking a foul off his left ankle Tuesday night. He had a single in four at-bats.UP NEXTCubs: RHP John Lackey (7-4, 3.29 ERA) opens a four-game series at New York against the Mets. Hes coming off his worst outing of the season, when he allowed seven runs in 4 1/3 innings of a loss at Miami last Saturday.Reds: LHP Brandon Finnegan (3-6, 3.83) opens a four-game series at Washington. He has lost his last two starts, giving up seven earned runs in 11 2/3 innings. The Reds dont play at home again until July 15.---Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay ' ' '