New York Mets

Murphy, who finished 1 for 4 with two runs, is batting .469 (15 for 32) with two home runs, five RBI, five doubles and seven runs during his hitting streak.

Marcum gave up four earned runs -- three in the first -- and the Mets lost 4-3. He was victimized twice by Jay Bruce, who hit a run-scoring double in the first and a home run in the sixth inning. In all, Marcum allowed four runs on six hits and a walk over six frames. He struck out seven and his ERA is now at 6.59. 

The 31-year-old has at least gone six or more innings in his last two outings. He's shown improvement and will search for that elusive first win Sunday against Atlanta. 

He was recalled last week and has been a pleasant surprise, allowing just one hit and one walk in 2 2/3 innings over the last three appearances.

"In the three games he's pitched since he's been back, I've seen much more confidence in his stuff -- much more confidence in his delivery," manager Terry Collins told MLB.com Saturday. "This is a new thing to him. But I thought the ball is getting more movement to it than it was before. I think his offspeed stuff is better than it was in the beginning."

Gee was battled in a scoreless duel until opposing pitcher Travis Wood connected for a two-run homer off the right-hander in the fifth inning. Gee then allowed a solo home run to Ryan Sweeney in the sixth inning. He was charged with three runs on eight hits and one walk, while striking out six in five-plus innings. Gee's ERA actually declined from 6.13 to 6.04.

Gee, who is winless in his last three starts, will return to action Saturday against the Braves. Gee is 3-2 with a 3.13 ERA in eight career starts against Atlanta.

The home run provided the first RBI of Lagares' career and he also had his first multi-hit game. Lagares came into the contest batting .139 (5 for 36) in his first 17 games.

Brown left Sunday's game with an oblique strain. He's been playing with Triple-A Las Vegas but was a candidate to be called up. Brown has seen 15 at-bats with the major-league club this season. The 28-year-old is hitting .365/.441/.652 in 115 Triple-A at-bats this season. 

Tejada has struggled both offensively and defensively in 2013. He's batting .213 through 42 games and has made seven errors. He made all of 12 errors in 112 games last season.

If Tejada was demoted, then Omar Quintanilla would likely become the team's starting shortstop.

d'Arnaud will have to rehab before joining Triple-A Las Vegas. There's been talk about people within the organization that d'Arnaud won't be up until after the All-Star break, even if he's ready, according to MetsBlog.com. 

With d'Arnaud expected out, John Buck has a good chance to stick with the team for the entire season. He was thought to be a prime trade candidate earlier in the year. 

The calls for Davis, who is hitting .152, to be demoted to the minors are getting louder.

"That’s something that certainly we’ve considered as we sit and talk: What’s going to be better for him, what’s best for us," manager Terry Collins said, per the New York Post. "I didn’t really feel last year because of the way we were playing that -- even though he wasn’t swinging -- I wasn’t sure what he was going to get out of going to Triple-A. The fact we’re not playing like we did last year, that’s a bigger factor. We’re trying to work with him, make some adjustments. He came out early and hit extra again. It’s not that he’s not trying, we’re just not getting it done in games."

Byrd is batting .343 (12 for 35) with a .657 slugging percentage, 1.026 OPS, two doubles, five runs and nine RBI in 12 May games (nine starts).

Harvey allowed one run on an infield single and then shortstop Ruben Tejada had a throwing error, after which another run came around to score. The Mets contend that the second run should be unearned, as a result of the error.

"I didn't think it was an earned run," Mets manager Terry Collins told MLB.com Saturday .

If the ruling is reversed, Harvey would be charged with just one run in 7 1/3 innings, lowering his ERA to the season from 1.55 to 1.41. 

"It's just inexperience," Collins said. "He probably doesn't pitch as much here as he does in the minor leagues. You're more on a schedule there, and as you go a couple of days, you're going to get in a game. And he hasn't been doing that. The thing I like is that his velocity is up, but he's throwing balls right down the plate. He gets behind, and he'll throw a fastball right down the middle and get hurt."

Francisco may or may not be throwing off a mound. One thing is certain and that is that Francisco likely won't be returning to the New York bullpen anytime soon. 

But don't assume he's back to normal. There's still that messy issue of the Mets instructing him to pitch to contact.

I don't mean to keep harping on something I heard once on an opposing team's broadcast, but with only three strikeouts again Thursday, Niese has no more than three in any of his last seven starts. He's averaging 4.5 strikeouts per nine innings this year after averaging 7.3 per nine last year.

If that doesn't change, I don't see how he's anything more than a matchups type in mixed leagues.

Parnell hasn't allowed a run in eight May outings, striking out eight batters in eight innings.

Hefner allowed four runs in four innings of work, all coming in his fourth and final inning. He faced just two batters over the minimum in his first three innings, with one hit and walk as his only blemishes before he fell apart in the fourth.

The Cubs jumped on Hefner for four runs on four hits and a walk in the fourth inning. He also hit a batter. Hefner finished with three strikeouts, two walks and five hits allowed in four innings en route to an 8-2 loss.

The Mets have lost each of Hefner's starts this season, and he is 0-5 with a 5.00 ERA. Hefner will try to turn things around Friday against the Braves. 

Wright went 3 for 4 with a solo home run, accounting for three of the team's eight hits. He added a stolen base, his ninth of the season.

Wright is now batting .312 on the season, and has been on fire since the start of May. He is hitting .364 in 14 games, with twice as many home runs (four) as in April. He has six home runs on the season, with 27 RBI.