Sun May 11 16:59:19 2008

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Beltran, Mets blast Reds

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Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Carlos Beltran hit a two-run home run and an RBI double, and the New York Mets downed the Cincinnati Reds, 8-3, in the rubber match at Shea Stadium.

Oliver Perez (3-3) went six innings, holding the Reds to three runs on three hits with eight strikeouts and four walks. Jose Reyes went 3-for-5 and scored twice, and Ryan Church followed Beltran's home run in the fifth with one of his own for the Mets, who have won three of four.

Rookie Johnny Cueto (2-4) continued to struggle to regain the form from his first two starts. Cueto, who fanned 18 and allowed just three runs over his first 13 1/3 innings in the majors, gave up eight hits and six runs in 4 2/3 innings, fanning five and walking three.

Jeff Keppinger went 2-for-3 with a run batted in and scored for the Reds, who have split their last six games.

The Mets jumped all over Cueto with three runs in the first. Reyes led off with a single to center and quickly swiped second before coming around to score on Luis Castillo's triple. After David Wright flied out to center, Beltran laced an RBI double to the left-center gap. Moises Alou then capped the frame with a two-out, RBI two-bagger to make it a 3-0 game.

A host of players on both clubs used pink bats in honor of Mother's Day and to help raise funds and awareness for breast cancer, and Beltran appeared comfortable with the pink lumber. The Mets center fielder followed up his RBI double with a long ball, as he ripped a hanging breaking ball into the seats in right, a two-run shot with one out in the fifth.

Cueto then hung another off-speed pitch to Church, who slammed it over the fence in right-center for a 6-0 Mets lead.

The Reds broke through for three against Perez in the sixth. Adam Dunn plated one run with a sacrifice fly, then Keppinger tripled to left-center to score another. A wild pitch by Perez allowed Keppinger to come home, cutting the deficit in half, 6-3.

The Mets answered with two more runs in the sixth, though, on RBI singles by Damion Easley and Wright. The Reds had runners at the corners with one out in the eighth, but Dunn and Keppinger struck out to end the threat.

Game Notes

Perez stole a base in the second inning, his third career stolen base and first since 2006...Ken Griffey Jr. went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run. Six of Griffey's 597 career home runs were hit on Mother's Day, the most on the holiday among active players...New York's Carlos Delgado, who went 1-for-3 with a walk, needs two home runs to tie Andre Dawson for 35th place on the all-time home run list with 438.