Collins doesn't start struggling Murphy

While Jason Bay got a chance to show what he's got in the cleanup spot, Daniel Murphy took a seat on the bench Wednesday night. Murphy finally entered to pinch hit for Ruben Tejada in the 11th and stayed in to play third base.

Manager Terry Collins was resting the struggling Murphy -- who had been hitting fourth -- against lefty Gio Gonzalez. The first baseman was replaced by Lucas Duda, another lefthanded hitter.

"He's got really good numbers against lefthanders. I thought I'd get Duda in there today," Collins said. "I thought he needed to keep getting some at-bats. Murph is struggling a little bit so I wanted to make sure he gets the chance to work on some things with [batting coach] Dave [Hudgens]. Try to get some righties in there, and with our situation at first base, we're going to need a lefthanded hitter."

Collins said Murphy, in a 3-for-29 slump since June 14, is so aggressive he sometimes expands the zone, especially against lefties.

Starters still key

Despite their recent struggles, Collins still believes starting pitching will be "our biggest factor." That's because the Mets have no choice. "We're not going to outslug people,'' he said. "We just don't have that kind of club. Without Ike [Davis] and David [Wright] in the lineup, our power is at a minimum."

Extra bases

Jose Reyes may have put contract talks to bed, but Collins isn't convinced that's the last of it. "You'll always have to answer those questions," he said. " They won't stop. He'll have an off day and then there will be questions about is he worth all the money he's going to ask for." . . . Willie Harris celebrated his 33rd birthday . . . RHP Matt Harvey and OF Matt den Dekker were promoted to Double-A Binghamton.