Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Morning Briefing: Desert awaits

ANAHEIM, Calif.

FIRST PITCH: With Atlanta and Anaheim in the rearview mirror, the Mets make their final stop on a three-city road trip -- Phoenix.

Zack Wheeler (0-2, 5.73 ERA) opposes right-hander Josh Collmenter (0-0, 2.25) in Monday’s 9:40 p.m. ET series opener at Chase Field.

The Mets are 3-3 on the trip so far and 5-7 on the season.

“We’ve kind of given a couple of games away that we should be winning,” David Wright said after Sunday’s rubber-game loss to the Los Angeles Angels. “It is tough to take positives out of that. At the end of the day we’re putting ourselves in position to win some games and need to take advantage of that. There are some improvements that we can make in a lot of different areas. But the fact that we’re putting ourselves in pretty good position to win games is a good thing this early on.”

Monday’s news reports:

• Bartolo Colon allowed three straight first-inning homers and was charged with a career-high nine earned runs in five innings as the Mets were routed, 14-2, in a rubber game against the Angels on Sunday afternoon. After surrendering five homers in the finale (four by Colon), the Mets now have allowed an MLB-high 21 long balls this season. Read game recaps in the Post, Daily News, Times, Journal, Newsday, Star-Ledger, Record and at MLB.com.

• Wright and Daniel Murphy were ejected in the seventh inning by plate umpire Toby Basner after objecting to the strike zone too strenuously from the dugout. Read more in the Post, Star-Ledger, Newsday and at MLB.com.

• Terry Collins suggested last year’s workload may be catching up with Scott Rice, who allowed two runs Sunday -- on a bases-loaded walk and wild pitch.

• Chris Young went 5-for-5 with two homers and logged seven innings in center field at Fresno in his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Las Vegas. Young (right quadriceps) is due to join the Mets during the series in Arizona and be activated from the disabled list on Friday in New York when he is eligible.

• Rafael Montero held Fresno hitless until the sixth inning and Las Vegas won, 10-4. Hansel Robles tossed five scoreless innings as Binghamton blanked New Hampshire, 6-0. Domingo Tapia tossed five no-hit innings before reaching his pitch limit and departing and St. Lucie beat Fort Myers, 6-2. Savannah’s bats were quiet against rehabbing Mike Minor, but awoke after the Atlanta Braves left-hander departed en route to a 6-2 win against Rome. Read the full minor-league recap here.

• The Mets made a trade with the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, dealing minor-league catcher Blake Forsythe for future considerations.

• The Mets are offering $3.50 seats to games at Citi Field next weekend against the Braves. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

BIRTHDAYS: Kyle Farnsworth turns 38. ... Left-handed reliever prospect Chase Huchingson is 25.

TWEET OF THE DAY:

YOU’RE UP: Who should be demoted when Chris Young is activated from the disabled list on Friday?

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