Posted-September 15th, 2012 1:11 am

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Lucas Duda homered and doubled, Jonathon Niese pitched six strong innings and the New York Mets snapped a six-game losing streak, beating the surging Milwaukee Brewers 7-3 on Friday night.

The loss dropped Milwaukee back to .500 at 72-72 -- four games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second National League wild-card spot.

Niese (11-9), who had lost three straight starts, settled down after giving up two second-inning runs, allowing six hits, three walks and the two runs. He also had two hits and scored a run, helping the Mets to their biggest offensive output since a 9-5 extra-inning victory over Philadelphia on Aug. 28.

Daniel Murphy also homered for New York.

Mike Fiers (9-8) gave up six hits and four runs in five innings for Milwaukee, which had won 18 of 23 coming in. Fiers struggled from the start, and the Mets scored twice in both the first and second innings, equaling their offensive output in three losses in a sweep against Washington.

(Copyright Associated Press)