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Hardy, Brewers slam Mets in National League showdown

May 13, 2007 - 1:31 AM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- J.J. Hardy and the Milwaukee Brewers keep moving forward. The New York Mets helped them along when Ruben Gotay caught a fly ball while moving backwards.

Hardy hit a grand slam in a five-run eighth inning and a botched play by Gotay at second base led to two runs four innings earlier as the Brewers defeated the Mets, 12-3, on Saturday afternoon.

Ben Sheets pitched six effective innings for the Brewers, who pounded out 16 hits.

Milwaukee won for the 11th time in 12 games and owns the best record in the major leagues at 25-11.

David Newhan hit a two-run pinch-hit homer for the Mets, who had a three-game winning streak snapped.

"It was one of those days," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "You play well all year - you're going to have a stinker."

The Brewers gave Sheets a four-run lead in the fourth when New York made several defensive miscues on the same play. With the bases loaded and one out, Prince Fielder lofted a fly into short right-center field.

Gotay called off right fielder Shawn Green and made the catch while backpedaling. Craig Counsell, who had singled to open the inning, alertly raced home for the sacrifice fly.

Gotay's throw was up the first base line, and catcher Paul Lo Duca threw to second to catch Hardy in a rundown. However, Tony Gwynn Jr. rounded the bases and scored as Hardy prolonged the rundown before being tagged out, giving Milwaukee a 4-0 lead.

"That was solid aggressive base running. That's what that was," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "Craig read it perfectly and J.J. got into the rundown. That's one of those things we work on. It worked perfectly."

Sheets (3-2) would need most of the cushion, allowing three runs and four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

New York scored three times in the fifth when Green tripled and came home on a wild pitch. Newhan later followed with his first homer of the season to draw the Mets within 4-3.

"We played a really good game today," Sheets said. "Good base running, clutch hitting and solid defense. I made some good pitches when I had to."

Milwaukee tacked on five crucial insurance runs in the eighth when lefthander Pedro Feliciano allowed a single to Tony Graffanino and plunked Counsell.

Righthander Joe Smith relieved and plunked pinch hitter Gabe Gross to load the bases. Gwynn drove in the first run of the inning with a single before Hardy hit his 11th homer of the season to left field.

"I was trying not to hit the ball into a double play," Hardy said. "I know he's a good sinkerball pitcher."

Hardy, who had a 19-game hitting streak snapped earlier this week, hit his other grand slam on September 7, 2005 against Cincinnati.

Mike Pelfrey (0-5) took the loss, allowing four runs and eight hits in five innings. The rookie righthander has yet to win in six starts this season, putting his spot in the rotation in further doubt.

"I'm 0-5. Right now I'm doing the best I can to stay positive," Pelfrey said. "I want to do good. I'm still out there trying."

Pelfrey owns the fifth spot in the rotation, but could be the odd man out when Orlando Hernandez comes off the disabled list.

"I thought he threw the ball well," Lo Duca said. "He's human. He's allowed to give up a run."

Bill Hall and Johnny Estrada had RBI singles, in the first and third, respectively, for the first two runs. Gross had a two-run triple in the ninth and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hardy.

Mets left fielder Moises Alou left after six innings with what was announced as a pulled left quadriceps and is listed as day-to-day.