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Mets' Figueroa shackles Brewers

Apr 12, 2008 - 2:47 AM By Doug Mittler PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - Nelson Figueroa is a true journeyman pitcher who made the most of a trip back home.

Figueroa threw six strong innings to lead the New York Mets to a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.

Carlos Delgado and Raul Casanova had RBI singles in a three-run fourth inning for the Mets, who won their third straight game.

The 33-year-old Figueroa (1-0), who retired the first 14 batters he faced, is a Brooklyn native pitching for his fourth major league team. He spent last season in Mexico and Taiwan, but found his way back to New York City when the Mets signed him to a minor league contract in the offseason.

Injuries to Pedro Martinez and Orlando Martinez gave Figueroa a chance to move into the rotation, and Friday marked his first big league start since September 23, 2004, for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

"It was everything I dreamed about," Figueroa said. "This journey has been so incredible. To put forth that type of performance, it was storybook-like."

Figueroa did not allow a baserunner until a two-out walk to Corey Hart in the fifth. J.J. Hardy then lined a double to left field to bring home the first Milwaukee run.

Joe Smith and Aaron Heilman each pitched a scoreless inning before Billy Wagner worked the ninth for his first save.

"I know there's a lot of pressure to pitch in your home town," Wagner said. "He stayed composed."

The one concern for the Mets was an injury to shortstop Jose Reyes, who left the game after five innings with tightness in his left hamstring.

"It's sore right now. Probably tomorrow I'm not going to play," Reyes said.

The Brewers, playing the opener of a nine-game road trip, failed to hold a lead in a game for the first time this season. The game was played in heavy fog which may have kept some hard-hit balls in the park, including a warning-track drive by Ryan Braun in the sixth.

"We hit some balls that just died, but that's good pitching," Brewers manager Ned Yost said.

Manny Parra (1-1) took the loss, allowing three runs - all in the fourth - and six hits in four innings.

"I didn't feel like I got my job done," Parra said.

David Wright singled and Carlos Beltran walked to open the fourth. Delgado grounded a ball under the glove of first baseman Prince Fielder for an RBI single.

Damion Easley followed with a sacrifice fly and backup catcher Casanova, playing for the first time this season, added an RBI single to make it 3-0.

Fielder snapped an 0-for-13 slide with an RBI double in the sixth, cutting the lead to 3-2.