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MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The New York Mets liked Milwaukee County Stadium a lot better. In a game which featured nine home runs and 32 hits, including Tyler Houston's first career grand slam, the Milwaukee Brewers completed a three-game sweep of the Mets with a 12-8 victory. The Mets had dominated the Brewers, winning 20 of the 25 previous meetings, including 10 of 12 at County Stadium. But their first trip to Miller Park was a nightmare. "It was not a good three games for us here," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. "What can you say? I thought the hitters did a helluva job. They came out strong and kept on swinging the bats. That was probably the best we swung the bats all year." Hoping to avert a sweep on Thursday, the Mets were forced to start Brett Hinchliffe (0-1) after ace Al Leiter was placed on the disabled list with a strained elbow. And Hinchliffe's National League debut was not a memorable one. After allowing a run in each of the first two innings, Hinchliffe yielded a grand slam to Houston and a solo shot to Angel Echevarria in the third inning, opening a 7-1 lead for the Brewers. When Henry Blanco followed with a single, Mets manager Bobby Valentine yanked Hinchliffe, who was charged with eight runs and nine hits in two-plus innings. After Geoff Jenkins singled, Jeromy Burnitz walked and Jose Hernandez reached on an infield single to load the bases, Houston lined a first-pitch fastball over the right-field fence to start the home run parade "You remember your first home run so, yeah, I'll probably remember my first grand slam, too," Houston said. "Anytime you're up there you want to see a fastball. It was the first pitch so I swung at it." Hitless in five at-bats as a pinch-hitter this season, Echevarria hit a pair of solo homers. It was his first multi-homer game since June 19, 1999 when he played for Detroit against Seattle. "I probably won't be in the lineup tomorrow but I understand that," said Echevarria, who played first base. "When you look around we have All-Star caliber players so I understand the role I'm in. I can just get to the field early every day and hit to stay ready." Devon White went 4-for-5 with three RBI, including a solo homer, to lead Milwaukee's 19-hit attack. It was the 22nd career four-hit game for the 17th-year veteran and first as a Brewer. "Today all things happened right," White said. "We hit the ball in a timely fashion. Right now, I'm playing with a bunch of good guys so Im just here to contribute." Jose Hernandez was 3-for-5 and also homered for Milwaukee. Hinchliffe was making his first start since September 30, 1999 when he was with the Seattle Mariners. He made two relief appearances for Anaheim last season before signing as a free agent with the Mets. "I just wasn't making the pitches when I had to. I was just getting too much of the plate with my pitches," Hinchliffe said. "You can't have too many outings like that or you won't be around too long." New York's Mike Piazza had his second two-homer game of the season -- a pair of solo blasts -- and the 25th multiple-homer game of his career. He homered twice in an April 9 win over Atlanta. "The ball carries pretty well when the roof is open but it is also pitchers not making great pitches," Piazza said. Desi Relaford, starting at third base for the injured Robin Ventura, went 4-for-4 with a two-run homer for the Mets. Relaford's last four-hit game also came against Milwaukee back on July 4, 1998 when he played for Philadelphia. New York's Edgardo Alfonzo homered for the fourth straight game, capping the slugfest with a solo shot in the ninth. "The last couple of days, I've been hitting good," said Alfonzo, who is 9-for-15 with four home runs and six RBI in his last four games. "I am just trying to stay positive and help the team." Milwaukee starter Paul Rigdon was cruising along with a 9-1 lead when he was hit in the face by a hard one-hopper back to the mound off the bat of Rey Ordonez in the fourth inning. Rigdon suffered a deep laceration above the lip and was helped off the field. "He's cut up inside and outside his mouth and needed stitches," Brewers manager Davey Lopes said. "We checked for fractures but we don't know how bad it is yet." Chad Fox (1-0) threw 1 2/3 hitless innings to pick up the win. The Brewers improved 9-3 in their new stadium and at 11-10 are over .500 for the first time since April 15, 2000 when they were 6-5. Milwaukee swept Cincinnati in its first series at Miller Park. The Mets were swept in a series for the third time, previously falling at Montreal and at home to Cincinnati. After falling behind by eight runs, the Mets pulled within 10-7 when Piazza hit his second home run of the game in the seventh inning. Singles by Todd Zeile and Relaford put runners on first and second with one out, but Fox came in and retired Rey Ordonez on an inning-ending double play. "Anytime you can come in and shut the door and stop the bleeding, it's great," Fox said. Milwaukee relievers Will Cunnane and Mike Dejean combined to allow four runs and seven hits in three innings before Fox entered. White led off the bottom of the seventh with his first home run of the season and Echevarria hit his second homer in the eighth to increase the lead to 12-7.
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