|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) -- On a New York Mets team beset by inconsistency and injuries, Rick Reed has become Mr. Reliable.
| |  | |
| Reed |
Reed pitched eight sharp innings, outdueling former teammate Bobby Jones and stopping the Mets' six-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory Tuesday night over the San Diego Padres.
"I don't think there was any pressure on us tonight," Reed said. "If this was September, maybe. This is May, and there's a long way to go."
The Mets won on a day when manager Bobby Valentine held a clubhouse meeting after he had lunch with general manager Steve Phillips and co-owner Fred Wilpon to discuss the team's troubles.
The defending NL champions began the day with a 14-23 record, second-worst in the league. They did not exactly erupt against last-place San Diego, but did enough to hand the Padres their major league-leading sixth shutout.
"The guys talked about the things they needed to do," Valentine said. "They knew we had to go out there and play the game, and we played that game tonight."
Reed (5-2), the only starter in the rotation with an ERA under 5.25, gave up five hits. He struck out seven, walked one.
Reed jammed his right thumb while batting in the seventh inning, worked through the eighth and left with a 2.52 ERA.
Rey Ordonez hit an RBI single and catcher Mike Piazza overcame his throwing problems to nail two would-be basestealers.
"We always try to be aggressive, but you don't want to run yourself out of innings," San Diego manager Bruce Bochy said. "Mike made a couple of nice throws. It hurt us."
The Padres lead the NL with 42 steals. Piazza had thrown out just 21 percent (7-of-34) of would-be basestealers before catching two of three.
"He threw aces down there," Valentine said.
San Diego, which lost its third in a row, featured a starting
lineup that included three players from the Mets last year -- Jones,
Rickey Henderson and Bubba Trammell.
Jones (1-5) allowed only six hits in seven innings, yet again was the victim of poor run support. He has a 2.83 ERA, but the Padres have scored only 20 runs in his eight starts.
While Jones drew pleasant applause from the small crowd of 21,490 for his eight seasons with the Mets, Henderson was booed.
Released last May after feuding with Valentine and Phillips,
Henderson returned to Shea Stadium and went 0-for-4. He had reached
base in 18 straight games for San Diego.
Reed was in complete control, never permitting a runner past
second base. His lone walk gave him an incredible total of two in
60 2-3 innings this year.
Reed also helped himself by picking off Ryan Klesko at second in
the fourth inning.
Armando Benitez pitched the ninth for his fifth save.
Ordonez singled home the game's only run in the fifth. Tsuyoshi
Shinjo led off with a single, moved up on Darryl Hamilton's
groundout and scored on Ordonez's hit.
Jones, whose last start for the Mets came in Game 4 of the Subway Series, faced his former team for the first time.
"I didn't know what to expect, but a lot of the fans were saying good things to me and that made me feel good," he said.
Game notes
Reed was the first pitcher in 30 years to walk only one batter in his first seven starts of the season, according to the
Elias Sports Bureau. ... While Reed has pitched 163 games lifetime
in the NL, this was his first against the Padres. ... Mets' 2B Edgardo Alfonzo did not play because of tightness in his lower
back. ... San Diego CF Santiago Perez left in the second inning after bruising his left index finger on a bunt try. ... Padres' SS Donaldo Mendez slid on his knees in the hole and threw out Todd
Zeile in the first. ... Ordonez made a neat play at shortstop, reacting quickly on Jones' grounder off Reed's glove to get the out.
 Send this story to a friend
| |
RECAPS
Baltimore 11
Detroit 3
Kansas City 6
Tampa Bay 2
Boston 5
Minnesota 2
Cleveland 8
Texas 6
Toronto 9
Anaheim 3
Oakland 3
NY Yankees 2
Seattle 4
Chi. White Sox 3
Arizona 5
Cincinnati 1
San Francisco 7
Florida 4
Montreal 2
Los Angeles 0
Milwaukee 14
Philadelphia 10
St. Louis 8
Pittsburgh 3
NY Mets 1
San Diego 0
Atlanta 5
Colorado 3
Houston 9
Chicago Cubs 7
|
