Rookie Conforto, newcomer Johnson help Mets rout Dodgers

NEW YORK (AP) -- Michael Conforto went 4 for 4 for his first big league hits and Kelly Johnson homered into the upper deck in his Mets' debut, powering New York past the Los Angeles Dodgers 15-2 Saturday night.

Lucas Duda homered twice for the Mets in their highest-scoring game since April 2013, and their biggest run total ever against the Dodgers.

Slumping at the plate most of the season, the Mets erupted for 21 hits, their most since 2010.

Conforto, playing his second game in the majors, doubled twice, walked and scored four runs. Kirk Nieuwenhuis got four hits and drove in four runs and Daniel Murphy homered with three RBIs.

Johnson got two hits and Juan Uribe had one, a day after the Mets acquired them in a trade with Atlanta.

Matt Harvey (9-7) doubled, singled and pitched seven innings as the Mets ended a three-game losing streak.

Zach Lee (0-1) was tagged in his major league debut, allowing four runs in the first inning. He gave up seven runs and 11 hits in 4 2-3 innings after being pressed into starting duty.

Lee pitched while the Dodgers reshuffled their rotation. All-Star ace Zack Greinke was scheduled to pitch Friday night, but returned to Los Angeles to be with his wife for the birth of their first child.

On Sunday, Greinke starts with a shutout streak of 43 2-3 innings.

Duda homered twice in a game for the third time this season. Ruben Tejada added three hits.

Rookie Joc Pederson hit his 21st home run for the Dodgers and Jimmy Rollins homered for the third straight day against the Mets.

Conforto, hitless with an RBI in his debut Friday night, got up with the bases loaded in the first inning. He hit a grounder off Lee's glove and beat the throw to first for an RBI single - after crossing the bag, he glanced back to verify that first base umpire Manny Gonzalez had called him safe, and appeared to smile after confirming so.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: 1B Adrian Gonzalez was a late addition to the lineup, dealing with neck stiffness. After taking batting practice, Gonzalez was inserted into the batting order, replacing Alberto Callaspo. ... OF Yasiel Puig (rest) got in as a pinch-hitter. He's expected to return to the lineup Sunday.

Mets: LHP Jonathon Niese was put on the paternity list after the birth of son Tatum Jeffery. RHP Logan Verrett was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas. SS Wilmer Flores (rest) was given the day off. ... Rehabbing C Travis d'Arnaud (elbow) played for Double-A Binghamton, catching five innings, going 1 for 3.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: Greinke (9-2, 1.30 ERA) will be activated from the paternity list to start. Wife Emily gave birth to son Bode Nicholas on Thursday night. Greinke traveled back to New York on Saturday. Greinke is 3-1 lifetime against the Mets. He is approaching the major league record of 59 scoreless innings by Orel Hershiser in 1988 for the Dodgers.

Mets: Jacob deGrom (10-6, 2.18 ERA) will start the series finale. He is 7-2 with a 1.50 ERA over his last 11 starts. He is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in two career starts against Los Angeles.

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