NEW YORK -- Rockies right-hander Tanner Gordon made his second career Major League start, but it was an outing to forget following a 7-6 loss to the Mets on Friday night at Citi Field.

Gordon had a lot of adrenaline when he first stepped on the mound, pumped to be pitching in front of the New York crowd. And he got off to a great start, retiring three of the first four batters he faced in the first inning before being given a 2-0 lead thanks to Michael Toglia, who hit a two-run homer off left-hander Sean Manaea. It was Toglia’s third homer in his past four games.

But it went downhill after that. Gordon was unable to use his changeup the way he wanted, and quickly gave up the lead because of the long ball. With one out, Mets third baseman Mark Vientos swung at an 0-2 pitch and hit a solo homer to left-center field.

Jose Iglesias followed and also found himself behind in the count, but Gordon was unable to take advantage as Iglesias took him deep to even the game at 2.

After Jeff McNeil grounded out, Harrison Bader gave New York the lead with a solo homer -- the third Gordon allowed that inning.

Gordon left after tossing just three-plus innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. In two Major League starts, Gordon has allowed 11 runs in 9 1/3 innings with six home runs. So, what lessons did he take away from his first two outings?

“I can’t take a pitch off,” Gordon said. “I have to be able to execute pitches at any moment, count or any time of the game. It’s just a matter of trusting my stuff and having really good intent behind the pitches that I throw and trusting the pitches that I throw.”

In his next start, Gordon realizes that he has to go back to basics. That means throwing a lot of strikes.

“These guys get paid to hit, too,” Gordon said. “If you don’t have full confidence in the pitch that you are throwing, they are going to hit it.”

But Gordon almost ended up with a no decision because of a late Colorado rally. One thing can be said about a Rockies team managed by Bud Black: They don’t give up.

New York led 7-3 entering the seventh, but Colorado made it tough on New York’s bullpen. Charlie Blackmon struck first with a solo homer off left-hander Jake Diekman before Brenton Doyle clobbered a two-run blast in the eighth to make it a one-run game.

“That’s what our guys are going to do. They don’t quit. They have a great resolve to keep going,” Black said.

Mets closer Edwin Díaz came in for the ninth, and the Rockies put together another threat. After getting two quick outs, Díaz walked Sam Hilliard and Blackmon to put runners on first and second. Ezequiel Tovar came to the plate and worked the count to 2-2 before striking out to end the game on a slider.

“We think we are going to win the game, regardless of what’s going on,” Black said. “We know if we put good at-bats together late, we can put some stress on some teams. It was a good experience for all our guys. It was spirited, but in the end, we didn’t get it done.”