Slumping Wright gets right to lead Mets past Rockies

NEW YORK (AP) -- David Wright knew the symptoms of his slump. Finding the solution was the tough part.

Wright was locked in a 3-for-25 slide, struggling with every at-bat, until he came upon a simple formula to break out of it Friday night.

Take your time.

"I just tried to slow everything down," Wright said after delivering a pair of RBI hits in the New York Mets' 6-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies. "I recognized pitches better. When you're struggling, you're anxious. I just tried to relax."

It worked.

Wright, whose average had sunk to .304 from a season high .336, delivered a two-out RBI double off Byung-Hyun Kim (7-8) in the third to put the Mets in front 1-0. He also singled in a run in the fifth for a 4-3 lead.

"You just take a deep breath," Wright said. "Working deep in the count is my game. When you're struggling, you want to swing at everything. You want to hit the first pitch you see real hard."

Instead, Wright worked counts and waited for his pitch.

"I felt good," he said. "I felt confident. I wasn't giving away at-bats."

Steve Trachsel (12-5) benefited from the usual run support and won his fourth straight start, working seven innings, matching his longest outing of the season. He allowed seven hits, struck out six and walked three to tie Tom Glavine for the club lead in victories. Trachsel is 10-1 since June 9 -- the most in the major leagues during that span.

"I'm trying to be more efficient, trying to work the hitters," Trachsel said. "My fastball was sharp and my curve and changeup were real good. I haven't faced most of these guys. I tried to locate, work ahead in the count."

Todd Helton, Colorado's best hitter, went 0-for-4.

"He didn't throw anything over the plate to me," Helton said. "He was hitting the corners, changing speeds. He kind of lulls you to sleep a little bit. It's a comfortable out, but you are out."

Chad Bradford worked the eighth and Billy Wagner pitched the ninth for his 29th save in 34 chances.

Trachsel retired 10 of 11 batters following Jamey Carroll's leadoff double in the first. With one out in the fourth, Matt Holliday singled to right and Garrett Atkins followed with his 20th home run of the season for a 2-1 Rockies lead. One out later, Yorvit Torrealba doubled and Clint Barmes was walked intentionally. Kim then delivered an RBI single to center.

The Mets seemed to have a chance to get Torrealba trying to score but Carlos Delgado cut off Carlos Beltran's throw and cut down Barmes at third base for the third out. Torrealba scored before the out was recorded.

Endy Chavez's homer in the bottom of the fourth tied it for New York. It was the third of the season and first since July 25 for Chavez, normally a reserve but pressed into more regular service following the trade of Xavier Nady and Cliff Floyd's Achilles' injury.

"I like to play," Chavez said. "I think I can handle it. It's something I can't control. Whatever the team needs me to do. I don't want to change nothing."

Chris Woodward scored on Chavez's drive and also drove in a run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly. Michael Tucker also doubled in a run for New York.

Game notes
Colorado SS Barmes robbed Paul Lo Duca of a hit in the fourth with a diving stop of his shot up the middle. ... Atkins had three hits for the Rockies. ... Kim threw 90 pitches, 59 for strikes. ... Plate umpire John Hirschbeck took a foul ball off his mask with Beltran at bat in the sixth but shook it off. ... Trachsel had two other seven-inning outings this season, May 17 at St. Louis and June 4 against San Francisco. ... Jose Mesa got his 1,000th career strikeout, fanning Beltran in the ninth.