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Perez, subs lead Mets over Brewers

May 13, 2007 - 9:17 PM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Oliver Perez and a host of understudies slowed down the Milwaukee Brewers.

Perez allowed just two hits in 8 1/3 innings and Damion Easley homered and drove in four runs as the New York Mets defeated the Brewers in the rubber game of a three-game series, 9-1.

Highly touted prospect Carlos Gomez had two hits and scored twice in his major league debut for the Mets, who used a lineup with a host of non-regulars.

Manager Willie Randolph rested first baseman Carlos Delgado, catcher Paul Lo Duca and right fielder Shawn Green, while left fielder Moises Alou was unavailable due to a left quadriceps injury.

With Perez (4-3) on the mound, the Mets did not miss a beat.

"He really shut us down," said Milwaukee manager Ned Yost, whose team scored 12 runs in a lopsided win Saturday. "We've been swinging the bat really good and he stifled us."

The only hit allowed by the often-inconsistent lefthander through eight innings was a third-inning single to opposing starter Chris Capuano.

"I'm trying to make pitches. I'm not just throwing the ball," Perez said. "Every start is different for me and I'm trying to be more consistent."

Perez walked just two - including Rickie Weeks to lead off the game - and struck out six. Milwaukee had just one batter reach second base before Bill Hall homered in the ninth.

Aaron Heilman replaced Perez after the homer and gave up a hit before completing the three-hitter.

Perez, who also drove in a run in a five-run eighth and scored on a triple by Jose Reyes, endured a rocky start to the season, walking seven batters over 2 2/3 innings in a loss to Philadelphia on April 11. He has seven batters in five starts since.

"You're going to have your ups and downs," Randolph said. "He's been relatively consistent. It doesn't surprise me with the type of arsenal he has."

Other non-regulars in the lineup were Ramon Castro at catcher, Julio Franco at first base and Endy Chavez in left field.

Easley, who has received extended playing time of late due to an injury to second baseman Jose Valentin, hit a two-run homer in the first, an RBI single in the second and a run-scoring infield hit in the eighth.

"It's easier to relax knowing I'm going to get more at-bats and see more pitches," Easley said. "It's always nice to contribute to a championship team."

Gomez was called up from Class AAA New Orleans prior to the game after Alou suffered a strained quadriceps Saturday that will sideline him for at least a few days. The 21-year-old made a diving catch in right field to rob Johnny Estrada of a hit in the fourth.

Capuano (5-1) lost for the first time in eight starts this season, allowing four runs and seven hits in four innings. The lefthander struggled from the outset and failed in a bid to become the first Brewer since Bill Wegman in 1994 to win his first six decisions.

"It was very much one of those days where I really didn't have anything going," Capuano said.

Capuano had a string of 16 consecutive scoreless innings abruptly ended when Reyes walked in the first and Easley hit his fifth homer in just 49 at-bats.

Seven of Easley's 15 hits this season have been for extra bases. He is 8-for-16 with five RBI in his last four starts.

The Mets added a third run in the first when David Wright singled, stole second and came home on a single by Castro. Emerging from a slump, Wright had a career-high three stolen bases.

The Mets stole five bases, raising their major-league leading total to 38.

Gomez doubled to left field in his first major league at-bat to lead off the second and scored on a single by Easley that made it 4-0.

"I feel great. I've been waiting for this for a couple of years," said Gomez, who also had a stolen base. "I wasn't nervous because I was with the team in spring training and I look at them as my family."

The Mets broke open the game in the eighth, which included a two-run home run by Carlos Beltran.

The Brewers dropped their first road series of the season. Milwaukee was 4-0-2 in its previous six road series.