New York Times
Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Bronson Arroyo was masterful in throwing eight innings of one-run ball, and the Cincinnati Reds pulled away late for a 7-1 victory over the New York Mets to salvage a split in a day/night doubleheader between the clubs at Shea Stadium.
The Mets pounded the Reds in the opener, as Carlos Beltran knocked in five, while Carlos Delgado and Brian Schneider hit solo homers in a 12-6 drubbing.
New York couldn’t get to Arroyo (2-4) in the nightcap, as the Reds starter struck out a career-high nine while allowing just four hits and two walks. He retired the final 13 batters he faced.
“It’s a big chess match for me because I don’t have overpowering stuff,” Arroyo said. “I felt like I beat them to the punch on a couple pitches.”
Jeff Keppinger recorded his first career 5-for-5 game at the plate, scoring twice and driving in a run. Scott Hatteberg ripped a double, two singles and three runs batted in a much-needed win for Cincinnati, which had dropped seven of its last nine.
Mike Pelfrey (2-3) tossed a quality start for the Mets, giving up two runs on eight hits and one walk through six innings, but the right-hander took the loss after the offense managed just four hits.
David Wright accounted for the lone RBI for New York, which had a two-game win streak stopped.
Tied 1-1 in the sixth, Hatteberg drilled a double to center and Keppinger sprinted all the way around from first for the eventual winning run.
The Reds added two more off reliever Duaner Sanchez in the eighth with back- to-back run-scoring singles by Hatteberg and Paul Bako.
Billy Wagner, who had only given up one unearned run all season, failed to keep it close in the ninth due to sloppy Mets fielding. Wright and Delgado each rushed possible double-play ground balls, and neither recorded an out for their efforts.
The errors loaded the bases, and Keppinger and Bako sandwiched their RBI singles between Hatteberg’s sacrifice fly to give Cincy an insurmountable six- run cushion.
Francisco Cordero pitched a perfect ninth to finish off the victory.
Ryan Freel opened the game with a double on the seventh pitch of his at-bat. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt, Ken Griffey Jr. singled to left to force in the first run of the contest.
New York tied it in the third with an exact replica of the Reds first run. Jose Reyes doubled, moved up a base on a sac bunt and scored when Keppinger couldn’t handle Wright’s bouncer to his right.
The Mets almost took the lead during the next at-bat when Beltran ripped a liner to the gap in right and Wright was waved home. The Reds, however, executed a perfect relay throw and convincingly threw the third baseman out at the plate.
The Mets did not register a hit the rest of the way.
“Arroyo pitched great,” Wright said. “He has a good track record against us. He goes out there and he’s very smart. He adds a little, subtracts a little.”
Game Notes
The Mets won five of their seven meetings with the Reds last season and have won nine of their last 13 in the series…Arroyo was coming off the shortest outing of his career in his last start - 1 1/3 innings - against the Braves…The last Red to record a 5-for-5 performance at the plate was Freel, who logged the feat on July 6, 2003 at Cleveland…For the series finale on Sunday, the Reds will send Johnny Cueto (2-3) to the hill and the Mets will counter with Oliver Perez (2-3).
