Fri Jul 18 22:28:29 2008

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Arroyo, Reds snap Mets' 10-game win streak

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Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Bronson Arroyo tossed eight solid innings and the Cincinnati Reds cooled off New York, 5-2, snapping the Mets' 10-game winning streak.

Arroyo (8-7) allowed two runs on four hits and struck out four to collect his fourth straight victory. Francisco Cordero pitched a scoreless ninth to notch his 20th save.

Jay Bruce finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored for Cincinnati, which has won eight of its last 12 outings. Brandon Phillips drove in two runs for the Reds.

Carlos Beltran was 2-for-4 and knocked in a run for the Mets, whose 10-game winning streak was one shy of the franchise record and tied Minnesota (June 17-27) for the longest in the majors this year.

John Maine (8-7) went just 4 2/3 innings and gave up five runs on five hits with five walks and five strikeouts to take the loss. Maine is 0-2 in his last four starts and has not made it through the fifth in three of those starts.

Because of the loss, the Mets slipped a game behind Philadelphia for first place in the NL East. That's because the Phillies won at Florida, 4-2, Friday night.

The Reds opened the scoring in the third when Bruce reached out and drove a 3-2 changeup into the right-field bleachers, but New York immediately countered with a pair of runs in the fourth.

Arroyo had faced the minimum through the first three frames and retired Jose Reyes to start the fourth. Marlon Anderson then hit a ground-rule double, and after David Wright drew a walk, Anderson scampered home when Beltran ripped an RBI double to right-center. The Mets took the lead on a groundout by Damion Easley.

The fifth inning proved problematic for Maine, as the Reds erupted for four runs. With a runner on second and two away in the frame, Bruce worked a walk before Jeff Keppinger reached on an infield single to load the bases for Ken Griffey Jr., who walked to force in the tying run.

Phillips then delivered with a bloop single down the right-field line that plated two runners. After Adam Dunn was intentionally walked, Maine clipped the left hand of Edwin Encarnacion to bring in another run for a 5-2 lead. Scott Schoeneweis came in from the bullpen and got Joey Votto to ground out to end the inning.

Arroyo wiggled out of a jam in the seventh. Beltran stroked a ball into the right-field corner for a lead-off triple and Carlos Delgado was hit by a pitch with one out, but Fernando Tatis hit into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play to wipe out the Mets rally.

Game Notes

The Reds are 32-10 when scoring first...New York pitchers walked season-high tying nine batters...Cincinnati left nine men on base, while the Mets stranded two...Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan along with Griffey were recognized for their selection to the Rawlings Gold Glove all-time team prior to the game...Cincinnati outfielder Ryan Freel will undergo surgery to repair the torn distal hamstring tendon behind his right knee, the club revealed Friday. The procedure will be performed on Wednesday by team medical director Tim Kremchek...New York's Oliver Perez (6-5) and Cincinnati's Josh Fogg (1-2) are scheduled to start on Saturday.