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May 4, 2010 - 4:09 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

New York (14-11) at Cincinnati (12-13), 7:10 p.m. EDT

After wrapping up last month in spectacular fashion, the New York Mets are still seeking their first win of May.

They might have to wait a little longer for that victory with Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo taking the mound next against them.

Coming off his best outing of the year, Arroyo looks to defeat the Mets for the fifth consecutive time Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park.

New York (14-12) won its final eight games of April to move into the NL East lead, but has been outscored 24-7 while losing its first three this month. The Mets, who now trail Philadelphia by one-half game, dropped Monday's series opener 3-2 in 11 innings as Cincinnati's Laynce Nix hit a pinch-hit solo home run to win it.

The victory was the Reds' eighth this season in their final at-bat.

New York had several chances to win, but stranded runners in scoring position in the sixth, seventh and 11th innings, settling for two runs in one of the majors' most hitter-friendly venues.

"We at some point have got to push a run across late in this ballpark," manager Jerry Manuel said.

It was New York's third loss in seven games to the Reds (13-13) since the start of last season, and the first without Arroyo on the hill. The right-hander has won four consecutive starts against the Mets while posting a 2.32 ERA, and threw a four-hitter the last time he faced them - a 3-0 win July 10 in New York.

Arroyo has in particular shut down David Wright, limiting the four-time All-Star third baseman to four hits in 22 at-bats.

Arroyo (1-2, 6.37 ERA) got off to a rough start to 2010, slowed because of allergies and colds he's been dealing with since spring training. He appeared better Thursday in Houston, giving up two runs and six hits with seven strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings of a 4-2 victory.

"I have been under the weather for awhile," said Arroyo, who was 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA in his previous three starts. "I had probably the best (stuff) I've had all year. I had a little bit more on the fastball, which I was looking for a while. I had good command of my other pitches."

While Arroyo has thrived the Mets, New York's John Maine (1-1, 7.15) has lost all three of his career starts against the Reds, with a 9.88 ERA.

Maine has begun to right himself after a terrible start to the season, posting a 3.68 ERA in his last three starts after recording a 13.50 ERA in his first two. The right-hander enjoyed his best start of 2010 last Wednesday, allowing three runs and four hits while striking out nine in six innings of a 7-3 home victory over Los Angeles.