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Reyes, Gotay make history, lead Mets to win over Reds

Jul 13, 2007 - 3:54 AM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Mets made a series of moves Thursday in search of some extra offense. Jose Reyes and Ruben Gotay gave them a spark right off the bat.

Reyes and Gotay led off the first inning with home runs and Lastings Milledge scored from first base on a single by Gotay in the fifth as the Mets snapped the Cincinnati Reds' four-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory.

Orlando Hernandez bounced back from a shaky start to pitch six effective innings, combining with three relievers on a four-hitter in the opener of a four-game series.

Scott Hatteberg had a two-run single for the Reds, who lost for just the second time in seven games under interim manager Pete Mackanin.

When Reyes and Gotay connected in the first off Bronson Arroyo (3-10), it marked the first time in the Mets' 45-year history that the first two batters in a game hit home runs.

The last time it happened in the major leagues was on May 23, when Grady Sizemore and Casey Blake of Cleveland accomplished the feat against Kansas City.

"Two swings of the bat sets the tone," Mets All-Star third baseman David Wright said. "We have to do a better job of putting on the pressure."

Reyes led off a game with a homer for the ninth time in his career, breaking the franchise record he shared with Tommie Agee and Len Dykstra.

Gotay followed with a shot to right-center field for a 2-0 lead.

The blasts were the 10th and 11th allowed this season by Arroyo, who yielded three runs and eight hits in seven innings. The lanky righthander snapped a career-high seven-game losing streak in his previous start.

"The pitch to Reyes, I don't know if it was a mistake," Arroyo said. "The other was on a 2-1 breaking ball. You have three days off, I felt a little rusty."

Meanwhile, Milledge - who was recalled from Class AA Binghamton on Thursday after a stint on the minor league disabled list - made an immediate impact when he singled to right field to lead off the fifth. Running on the pitch to Gotay, Milledge came all the way around to score on a single that was just out of the reach of diving center fielder Ryan Freel, giving New York a 3-2 lead.

"They have been watching me the last couple of years. They know what I can do," Milledge said. "What I did tonight was what I wanted to do."

Milledge slid toward the side and reached in to touch the plate with his hand, which angered manager Willie Randolph.

"A guy can get hurt like that," Randolph said.

Freel was playing center in place of rookie Josh Hamilton, who was placed on the disabled list prior to the game with a sprained wrist.

The promotion of Milledge was part of a series of roster moves made prior to the game by the Mets, who also designated veteran Julio Franco for assignment and fired hitting coach Rick Down.

Hernandez (5-4), who was tagged for six runs in four innings in his last start against Colorado, bounced back in this one, allowing two runs and three hits with seven strikeouts. Hernandez took himself out after six innings.

"He said he was finished," Randolph said.

Control problems hurt Hernandez in the second inning. A walk to Adam Dunn, a single by Alex Gonzalez and a two-out walk to Arroyo loaded the bases for Hatteberg, who delivered a two-run single that fell in front of right fielder Shawn Green.

However, the 38-year-old retired the last 12 batters he faced. Relievers Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano followed suit, tossing a perfect inning apiece before Brandon Phillips led off the ninth against closer Billy Wagner with a single.

Wagner, who allowed a two-run homer in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, worked around the hit to notch his 18th save in 19 chances. The lefthander was let off the hook when Phillips, who was on second base after a groundout, took off for third on a grounder to shortstop and was thrown out.

"(Phillips) wanted to make something happen and he let his emotions get the best of him," Mackanin said. "It's an aggressive mistake, but I'm still not happy about it."

Wagner then got Alex Gonzalez to ground out to end the game.