Piazza, McRae, Mets Top Reds

Bruce Benedict's only problem as the New York Mets' fill-in manager was finding his hat.

Benedict, taking over during manager Bobby Valentine's two-game suspension, made the right moves Wednesday as the Mets churned out a 5-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Mike Piazza extended his hitting streak to 19 games, Brian McRae drove in three runs and the bullpen responded the way it has all season under Valentine.

While Valentine watched from an overhead booth with general manager Steve Phillips, Benedict adeptly handled a game that had plenty of tough bounces in the outfield but few tough decisions.

Valentine also will miss a game Thursday in St. Louis, completing his two-game penalty from the National League for returning in disguise after being ejected last week.

Â"It was probably more nerve-racking,Â" Valentine said of his forced role as spectator. Â"It's something I hope that tomorrow will be the last time I ever have to do.Â"

Benedict, who was 176-178 in four years as a minor league manager, signed the lineup card, took it out to the umpires and then played it by the book as the Mets won for the eighth time in 10 games.

His biggest problem came at the start of the game, when he had so much on his mind that he forget to put on his hat as he headed to the field. He went back into the clubhouse and grabbed the wrong hat the one the Mets use for batting practice.

Â"I've been here for three years and I hadn't forgotten my hat ever,Â" Benedict said. Â"I was running a lot of things through my mind, typical things that happen the what-if's.Â"

The game turned on a play no one could have anticipated. Both teams had trouble tracking down high hops in the outfield, and a misplay by Reds center fielder Mike Cameron set up the decisive runs.

With the score tied at 2 in the sixth, Piazza reached when third baseman Aaron Boone dropped his grounder for an error. Robin Ventura hit a soft liner to center thaCameron charged and then let bounce over his head for a double, leaving runners on second and third.

McRae singled to right off Steve Parris (4-1) for a 4-2 lead, giving him three RBIs. He also had a run-scoring single in the second.

Â"The bounces didn't go our way,Â" said Parris, who gave up seven hits and four runs three earned in 6 2-3 innings. Â"If that ball doesn't go over Cameron's head, maybe it's first and second and we get a double play.Â"

Masato Yoshii (6-5) had a second solid start after two poundings. He allowed seven hits and two runs over six innings to get his first victory since May 25.

One of Benedict's most important moves came in the bottom of the seventh, when the Reds got Cameron to third with two outs and sent up switch-hitting pinch hitter Dmitri Young.

Benedict brought in left-hander Dennis Cook, forcing Young to bat right-handed his weaker side. Young was .278 and 3-for-6 as a left-handed pinch hitter, only .116 and 0-for-4 as a right-handed pinch hitter.

Cook got Young on a called third strike to end the threat, and the Mets added a run on Edgardo Alfonzo's single in the ninth. John Franco pitched the ninth for his 16th save in 17 chances.

Â"We just looked at the situations in the game,Â" said Benedict, who consulted with pitching coach Dave Wallace about moves. Â"I relied very heavily on matchups.

Â"Cook got us some big outs. I liked that matchup there.Â"

After winning eight in a row to climb over .500 and get into contention, the Reds have lost most of their gains by dropping seven of nine. They fell to 13-19 at Cinergy Field.

The Mets tied their club record with six homers in a Tuesday night win and got a solo shot from Ventura on Wednesday the seventh homer given up by the Reds in 13 innings.

Piazza extended his hitting streak to 19 games, matching his career high, with a double in the second. He came around on Ventura's ground out and McRae's single.

Ventura led off the fourth inning with his 11th homer, but the Reds tied it with Barry Larkin's RBI single in the fourth and Pokey Reese's run-scoring triple in the fifth.

Cameron had doubled to open the fifth, but was picked off second base, costing the Reds a run.

Notes: The Reds also will have a different manager on Thursday. Bench coach Ken Griffey will fill in for Jack McKeon, who will miss one game to be with his wife, who is having surgery for breast cancer. ... Piazza's other 19-game hitting streak was Aug. 22 to Sept. 17, 1996. ... Rickey Henderson led off the game with a walk and was caught stealing for the sixth time in 20 attempts. The caught stealing ended a streak of 19 consecutive steals off catcher Eddie Taubensee, who has thrown out six of 43 runners (14 percent). ... Mets outfielder Roger Cedeno is day-to-day with a bruised thigh. ... A fan behind the Reds dugout wore a Mets cap and a fake mustache and glasses, imitating te disguise that got Valentine in trouble last week. ... The Reds put pitcher Jason Bere on the disabled list with an inflamed pitching elbow and plan to call up Rick Greene from Triple-A Indianapolis before Thursday's game.

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