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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) – Chris Reitsma did just enough to help the
Cincinnati Reds set a consecutive scoring streak record and beat
the New York Mets.
|  | | Rookie Chris Rietsma earned his second win of the season by pitching 7 1/3 scoreless innings. |
Reitsma pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings and singled to help set
up the only run, and the Reds set the modern NL record by scoring
in their 175th straight game and beat the Mets 1-0 Saturday.
"We needed every one of those zeros today," manager Bob Boone
said.
Reitsma (2-0) has made a remarkable comeback since missing most
of the 1997 and 1998 seasons after twice breaking his pitching
elbow while throwing pitches. He has gone from Class-A ball to the
majors in less than a year.
"The second time I thought that was it," Reitsma said. "I
knew I had the ability to pitch in the major leagues, it was just a
matter of staying healthy."
He's done that and more for the Reds since coming over from
Boston last August in a deal for Dante Bichette.
Reitsma, who hadn't pitched above Double-A before this season,
was not fazed at all in his third career start, pitching in front
of a sellout crowd against the NL champions. He allowed five hits
and three walks, improving his ERA to 1.40.
"You can have poise when you have command like he does and that
changeup like he does," Boone said. "It's easier to have poise
when you have that in your arsenal."
Al Leiter (0-2), who shut out the Reds on Oct. 4, 1999 in a
one-game wild-card playoff, nearly ended Cincinnati's streak in a
tie for the modern NL record with the 1992-93 Philadelphia
Phillies.
Philadelphia set the overall NL mark at 181 from 1893-95. The
1931-33 New York Yankees hold the major league record for
consecutive games without being shut out at 308.
But one run was enough against the Mets' missing offense. New
York, which entered last in the league in scoring, has just three
runs in its last 38 innings.
"We did not have a lot of good at-bats," manager Bobby
Valentine said.
The Mets wasted a bases-loaded, one-out chance in the eighth.
Danny Graves relieved Reitsma and got Mike Piazza to hit into an
inning-ending double play. Piazza could only shake his head in
frustration after another squandered opportunity.
"That's the game," he said. "There's no excuse. I could have
picked the team up there and I didn't."
The Mets couldn't score with the bases loaded and no outs in the
eighth inning Friday and lost 3-2. Graves, who earned his third
save Saturday, got out of that jam too.
"I enjoy the pressure situations, but one of these days the
ball is going to find a hole and I'm going to be a goat," Graves
said.
The Reds, playing without injured Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry
Larkin, used Reitsma's first career hit and a wild pitch by Leiter
set up the only run.
Reitsma led off the sixth with a flare to right field for his
first hit in five career at-bats. After a fielder's choice and a
single by Pokey Reese, Leiter got crossed up with Piazza and threw
a wild pitch.
"We had two sets of signs and I thought he changed the sign,"
Leiter said. "As it happened, it cost us a run and we didn't get
any runs."
That proved costly when Dmitri Young hit a hard grounder to the
left of third baseman Robin Ventura, leaving the Mets with only a
play at first and giving the Reds a 1-0 lead.
"We're not a team that is going to hit a bunch of homers,
especially without Junior," Graves said. "We need to manufacture
some runs."
The Mets also missed an ideal scoring opportunity in the sixth.
Joe McEwing led off with a walk, stole second and went to third on
catcher Kelly Stinnett's throwing error. Edgardo Alfonzo, who is
5-for-42 this season, struck out, and Reese threw out McEwing at
the plate on Ventura's grounder to second.
After a single by Piazza, Todd Zeile grounded out, prompting
boos from the crowd.
Leiter, making his first start at Shea Stadium since losing Game
5 of the World Series to the Yankees, allowed one run and six hits
in eight innings, He struck out eight and walked none.
Game notes
The Reds posted their first 1-0 win since Aug. 19, 1999,
against Pittsburgh. ... It was the Mets' first 1-0 loss since last
July 23, at Atlanta. ... Larkin missed the game with a strained
left wrist and isn't expected back until Tuesday at the earliest.
... The Mets are 4-7 on the season despite winning four of six
against nemesis Atlanta. New York has lost all five meetings to
Montreal and Cincinnati.
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RECAPS
NY Yankees 3
Boston 2
Detroit 1
Cleveland 0
Toronto 5
Kansas City 4
Baltimore 6
Tampa Bay 5
Texas 9
Oakland 8
Minnesota 9
Chi. White Sox 4
Seattle 2
Anaheim 1
Cincinnati 1
NY Mets 0
Houston 7
St. Louis 4
Chicago Cubs 7
Pittsburgh 6
Colorado 9
Arizona 8
Philadelphia 2
Atlanta 1
Milwaukee 11
San Francisco 6
Montreal 8
Florida 2
San Diego 5
Los Angeles 4
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