MILWAUKEE -- If good teams make their own breaks, the Milwaukee Brewers showed why they are in last place in the N.L. Central. The Brewers gave the New York Mets three unearned runs in an inning in which only one ball left the infield, committed three errors, and had two runners thrown out at the plate and another at third. Milwaukee pitchers also issued eight walks, hit one batter and threw two wild pitches in an ugly 12-5 loss to the Mets on Friday night. The Brewers wasted a stellar performance by Carlos Gomez in which he had four hits -- including two RBI doubles -- and made a leaping grab above the centre-field wall to take away a home run from pinch-hitter Marlon Byrd in the seventh inning. "We sure didnt play well today," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "We didnt pitch well today, we didnt play well defensively today. We swung the bats OK. "I messed up, too, on a play. So nothing went right." Kirk Nieuwenhuis drove in a career-best five runs for New York with his first four-hit game. He had a triple, a double, two singles and two walks. Nieuwenhuis, who entered the game hitting .179 in 56 at-bats after being recalled from Triple A Las Vegas on June 9, raised his average to .233. He became the first Mets player to reach base six times in a nine-inning game since Mike Piazza did it on May 27, 2000. "Tremendous night for Kirk Nieuwenhuis," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "Absolutely tremendous night. He picked us up." The Mets hustled their way to three unearned runs in the second inning for a 5-2 lead, despite hitting only one ball out of the infield. Omar Quintanilla drew a leadoff walk and advanced on Zack Wheelers sacrifice bunt. Quintanilla moved to third, and Eric Young reached on an error by shortstop Jean Segura. Daniel Murphys high chopper back to the mound was gloved by 6-foot-9 starter Johnny Hellweg, but Quintanilla dived back to third ahead of Hellwegs throw as Murphy reached to load the bases. "I kind of had a little lapse of judgment right there," said Hellweg (0-2), who allowed seven runs -- three earned -- seven hits and five walks in 3 2-3 innings "As soon as the ball came back to me, I felt like there was just a guy at third. "I just spaced on the guy being at first when the ball got back to me. It wasnt the right play." Mets first baseman Ike Davis, in his first game since being recalled from a minor league stint, then drove in a run with a slow-rolling single to Segura. After David Wright lined out to first, Nieuwenhuis grounded a two-run single to right just past the glove of diving second baseman Rickie Weeks. "That is how you win at this level," Collins said. "If you are going to have games where teams are going to give you outs, you better take advantage of it." Wheeler (2-1) gave up three runs and seven hits and walked three in five shaky innings. He struggled in his two previous starts since pitching six shutout innings in his major league debut. The Mets made it 7-2 in the fourth with the aid of another error. Wright walked to open the inning and came around on singles by Davis and Nieuwenhuis. Davis scored from third on a two-out error by third baseman Aramis Ramirez. The Brewers loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning, but Wheeler escaped when catcher Jonathan Lucroy flied to shallow centre and Juan Francisco struck out looking. "Im part of that. I popped out. Im guilty of that," Lucroy said. "We let him off the hook. You have to take advantage of the situations, and when you dont thats when you get beat like that." Nieuwenhuis accounted for another run in the sixth when he walked, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on John Bucks single. He doubled in the eighth and scored on Juan Lagares single to make it 9-4. Nieuwenhuis tripled in another run in the Mets three-run ninth. Francisco opened the fourth with his 11th home run to trim it to 7-3. The Brewers scored single runs in the seventh and eighth on RBI doubles by Gomez and Logan Schafer. Hellwegs wildness helped the Mets score twice in the first. Young singled to open the game and moved to third on Wrights one-out single to right. Hellweg then issued consecutive walks to Davis, who entered hitting .161, and Nieuwenhuis to force in a run. Wright scored on Lagares fielders choice. Milwaukee answered with two unearned runs in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by Gomez and a sacrifice fly by Ramirez. It was the second consecutive rough start for Hellweg, who was rocked for seven runs in 1 2-3 innings in his first major league start on June 28. He had gone 6-0 with a 1.64 ERA in his last seven starts at Triple A Nashville before being called up by the Brewers. "The potential he has is the stuff that he has," Roenicke said. "He has a great fastball, a real good moving fastball. Hes got a nice breaking ball. But he has to command those pitches. Unless you can command them in the big leagues, youre not going to do well." NOTES: Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun, on the disabled list with an injured right thumb, took swings in the indoor cage Friday. "I havent talked to him since he swung. I talked to (third base coach) Ed Sedar and he said he swung the bat real well. I just havent asked Ryan how the hand felt," Roenicke said. Braun is scheduled to take batting practice on the field Saturday and Monday. When Braun is ready to be activated, he wont be sent on a rehab assignment, Roenicke said. ... Wheelers two-out single to right in the third was his first major league hit. . Josh Edgin pitched the final 1 1-3 innings for his first save in two opportunities. SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Luke Walton will back his players every time, and when no whistle came as DeMarcus Cousins took down Julius Randle early in the game the new Lakers coach got crazy mad.As in having to be held back as he made his way to midcourt before a pair of technical fouls in succession led to an ejection -- two of seven total Ts in a testy game.I just felt like I needed to stand up for my guys, Walton said. I felt like what happened on the floor wasnt right and my only concern is our guys and the locker room and our team. If I feel like somethings not right Im going to stand up for my guys.Cousins had 31 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and three blocks, and the Sacramento Kings used a big third quarter to send slumping Los Angeles to a seventh straight defeat with a 116-92 win Monday night.After five straight points by Cousins during one sequence, Darren Collison hit consecutive 3-pointers late in the third as the Kings outscored the Lakers 39-13 in the quarter on the way to just their second victory in seven games. Collison wound up with 20 points.Walton was ejected at the 4:14 mark of the first quarter, and he had to be held back by his players. Randle sure appreciated it.Ahh, I love my coach, man, Randle said. Thats my guy. He backs me up with everything. He has all of our backs 100 percent.Randle also received a T on the play and associate head coach Brian Shaw took over. DAngelo Russell, Shaw, Cousins and Lou Williams also had technicals.The Lakers got Russell and Nick Young back for Sundays 118-112 home loss to the Knicks, but their minutes were limited again Monday.Russell scored 17 points while Jordan Clarkson and Williams contributed 15 and 14 points, respectively, off the bench. Young had eight points as Los Angeles lost for the eighth time in nine games. The Lakers played the second game of a back-to-back while kicking off a seven-game, 13-day road trip.I thought guys grabbed each other and came out in the third with a lot of energy against a team playiing the second night of a back-to-back, Kings coach Dave Joerger said.ddddddddddddRussell had missed 12 of 13 games with left knee soreness and Young returned after sitting out seven of nine with a strained calf.This was already the Lakers second visit to new Golden 1 Center, where they won 101-91 on Nov. 10 after trailing by 19 in the second quarter.I felt like for the first time this season we kind of gave in, we gave up, which is disheartening because our group has been very resilient all year long, Walton said.Kings guard Ben McLemore was helped off the court with a bruised left quadriceps at the 7:35 mark of the first quarter after getting a knee on Mozgovs screen. He didnt return.WALTONS SUPPORTING CASTAs Walton experiences the bumps and losing streaks, he has leaned on old boss Steve Kerr of the Warriors, Phil Jackson and even his dad, Bill. He also is so thankful to have Shaw on his staff -- he mentioned it before the game and ejection -- since he has been through it all as a head coach.Were all in it together and were taking accountability in leading as well, Walton said.TIP-INSLakers: Walton increased his technical total to three and the Lakers had six in all. ... Los Angeles is 4-10 on the road.Kings: Cousins had his 10th 30-point game. ... F Rudy Gay headed to the locker room 3:50 before halftime with a hip flexor. ... G Matt Barnes had the night off for planned rest and wasnt in uniform. ... Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson sat courtside in suit and tie and was honored during a second-quarter ceremony with a signed basketball for his efforts getting new Golden 1 Center built.UP NEXTLakers: At Brooklyn on Wednesday as their season-high road trip goes East for the rest of the way before returning Dec. 24 ahead of a Christmas Day game with the Clippers.Kings: At Houston on Wednesday. The Kings lost 117-104 at home to the Rockets on Nov. 25. ' ' '