PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) _ Rick Reed allowed one hit in six scoreless innings as the New York Mets beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-0 Wednesday night.

Reed struck out and walked none in the 61-pitch outing, allowing only a single to Eric Karros in the fifth inning.

"He was vintage Rick Reed," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. "Again, a new and improved curveball and his fastball was spotted real well, but with that curveball it was a whole new dimension.

Los Angeles starter Andy Ashby allowed one run and six hits in five innings. Ashby, who allowed 10 runs in his first 15 innings this spring, only allowed a solo homer to Desi Relaford.

Relaford, who is fighting for a backup job on the Mets, helped his chances by going 3-for-4.

"He's been as good a player as we've had in the spring," Valentine said. "Tonight he hit the ball as hard as you can hit it and he's run the bases as well as anybody on the team and played multiple defensive positions."

The Mets posted their fourth combined shutout of the spring. Dennis Cook pitched one hitless inning and Armando Benitez finished by striking out three in two innings.

The Mets scored four runs in the eighth against Mike Fetters, including a three-run homer by Darryl Hamilton.

Notes: Donald Fehr, head of the union, conducted a two-hour meeting with Mets players Wednesday. ... Mike Piazza tested out his gimpy knee by going first-to-third on a hit and run in the fourth inning. ... Ron Swoboda, who played on the Mets' 1969 World Championship team, is in camp and will be working with minor league outfielders. ... Utility man Matt Franco is making his bid for a roster spot. During his last six games he's batted .438 and knocked in three runs. Franco has raised his spring average to .281.