• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Bailey pitches Reds past Mets

Jun 17, 2012 - 5:09 AM Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Homer Bailey pitched eight innings of one-run ball as the Cincinnati Reds won 4-1 win against the New York Mets in the second of three games at Citi Field.

Bailey (5-4) gave up six hits along with one walk and three strikeouts to win for the first time in his past three starts.

"I was just trying to get the ball in a little bit more and just make some good pitches," said Bailey. "But at the same time, I wasn't trying to do too much, just make sure I didn't make any bad mistakes."

Jay Bruce hit a three-run home run and scored twice, while Ryan Ludwick drove in the other run for the Reds, who have won five straight.

David Wright drove in the only run of the game for the Mets, who have dropped five of their past eight games. Jon Niese (4-3) went seven innings and gave up four runs on six hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in the loss.

"He had one bad pitch out there tonight, but otherwise he pitched a very good game," said Mets manager Terry Collins about Niese. "We didn't do too much to back him up."

The Reds struck in the first inning thanks to the long ball. Zack Cozart and Wilson Valdez each reached base on a single, Two batters later, Bruce launched a pitch over the wall in right for his 15th homer of the season and a 3-0 lead.

The Mets got a run back in the first as Daniel Murphy hit a one-out double, stole third and came home on a Wright double.

New York threatened in the second as Scott Hairston led off with a double and Josh Thole followed with a single, but Bailey retired the next three batters down to escape with no damage.

The Reds added a run in the fourth when Bruce was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Todd Frazier followed with a single and Ludwick singled home Bruce for a 4-1 lead.

New York put two men on base in the third and sixth innings, but Bailey was able to get out without allowing any runs and he retired the Mets in order in the seventh and eighth innings.

Aroldis Chapman worked around a two-out walk to Andres Torres in the ninth to pick up his eighth save of the season.

Game Notes

Before the game, the Mets placed outfielder Jason Bay on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion. He suffered the injury in Friday's game after crashing into the wall in left field on a dive off a Jay Bruce fly ball that went for an inside-the-park homer...Bailey is 1-1 in three starts against the Mets. He came into the game with a 13.00 earned run average against New York...Niese fell to 1-2 in four games against the Reds...The Mets left eight men on base and went just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.