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Mets Beat Brewers, Tie Braves


Rick Reed located his curveball and the New York Mets found a spot in first place.

Reed won his seventh straight decision and Mike Piazza hit one of three New York homers Monday night to lead the Mets to a 7-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

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Game Summary

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  • "In the bullpen, the curveball wasn't very good," said Reed, who has not lost since June 4. "I found it from the bullpen to the dugout."

    The Mets, 10-1 in Reed's last 11 starts, moved into a first-place tie with Atlanta in the NL East.

    "There's a lot of race left, but I like the way we're playing," New York manager Bobby Valentine said.

    Reed (10-3) allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings. He struck out four and walked two for the Mets, who are 14-4 since the All-Star break.

    "His curveball was sharper," Valentine said. "He found something in his curveball that he felt really good about. I think he has a lot of really good performances left."

    Milwaukee starter Hideo Nomo (9-4), released by the Mets in spring training, was tagged for six runs and nine hits in five innings. He gave up back-to-back homers to Robin Ventura and newly-acquired Darryl Hamilton in the fourth, as well as Mike Piazza's 22nd in the fifth.

    "I thought he made a couple of good pitches that they hit to put him on the ropes," Milwaukee manager Phil Garner said. "I just felt he wasn't real sharp with his control like he has been in the past."

    New York took a 2-0 lead in the first. Rickey Henderson led off with a single, stole second and scored on Edgardo Alfonzo's double. Alfonzo scored when Piazza reached on shortstop Jose Valentin's error.

    Ventura led off the fourth with his team-high 23rd home run, and Hamilton followed with his fifth. It was the sixth time this season the Mets have hit consecutive homers.

    Shawon Dunston hit an RBI single with two outs in his first at-bat with New York, making it 5-0.

    Dunston came in to play left field for Henderson, who strained his right hip after he doubled in the third. Dunston scored on John Olerud's double-play grounder in the ninth to make it 7-2.

    "They're an impressive club," said Milwaukee's Geoff Jenkins. "What impresses me is they're so unselfish."

    Milwaukee, which has lost three straight, got a solo homer from Jenkins in the fourth.

    The Brewers added another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Jeff Cirillo.

    Notes:

  • Milwaukee's Jeff Cirillo hit in the No. 2 spot and Ron Belliard hit seventh for the first time this season.
  • Olerud was the only Mets starter without a hit.
  • Milwaukee is 5-10 since All-Star Jeromy Burnitz left the lineup with an injury to his right hand.
  • Jenkins' homer was the 20th allowed by Reed this season, which leads the club.
  • Ben Sheets, Milwaukee's first selection in this year's draft, made his pro debut against Idaho Falls on Monday. He pitched five innings for Ogden, giving up one hit a solo homer. He walked one and struck out eight.

    ©1999 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

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