Mets Send Phils to 3rd Straight Loss

Rick Reed got a little revenge against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Reed bounced back from last week`s loss to the Phillies to pitch a four-hitter for his first shutout since 1999 as the New York Mets defeated Philadelphia 9-0 Tuesday night.

"They got to me a little bit in New York but I had five days to prepare for them and I was going to be ready," said Reed, who lost 6-3 to Philadelphia last Wednesday. "I looked at some video and approached the game a little bit differently."

Reed (6-2), who came into the game with only five walks in 81 1-3 innings, issued a season-high three walks and struck out four in his first shutout since Oct. 2, 1999, against Pittsburgh.

"He`s been our most complete pitcher all season and he was exceptional tonight," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. "There`s not much more you can ask for from a pitcher."

After being swept in a three-game series by the first-place Phillies last week at Shea Stadium, New York handed Philadelphia its third straight loss to move within 11 games in the NL East. The Phillies have been outscored 31-8 in the losses.

Phillies starter Robert Person (4-5) had his shortest start of the season, giving up seven runs and 10 hits in 4 1-3 innings.

"Person pitched from behind than had to come in with the pitch and good hitters wait for that," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "In the last three games our starters have all gone 4 1-3 innings. When that happens you`re going to get beat."

Robin Ventura went 3-for-5 with a homer and three runs scored, and Desi Relaford had three hits and three RBIs for New York.

Leading 2-0, the Mets scored five runs in the fifth. Darryl Hamilton doubled and scored on Mike Piazza`s single. Todd Zeile hit an RBI double that bounced off left fielder Pat Burrell`s glove.

Tsuyoshi Shinjo added a two-run double and Relaford had an RBI single to cap the inning.

The Mets got two runs in the fourth on an RBI single by Zeile and a sacrifice fly by Relaford.

"I think the way Rick`s pitching is giving us confidence," Piazza said. "When he`s pitching, you know he is going to keep you in the game. Fortunately tonight we gave him some support."

Notes:
Reed has three complete games this season and seven in his career. ... New York is 9-3 in Reed`s 12 starts. ...In the first five innings, both of Philadelphia`s base runners came with two outs. ... Phillies reliever Jose Santiago, acquired from Kansas City on Tuesday, made his debut with the team, pitching two shutout innings. ... New York`s Benny Agbayani missed his sixth straight game with a strained lower back. ...Mets SS Rey Ordonez, who missed the team`s game in Florida on Sunday, was a late scratch from the lineup. "He just thought he needed another day (of rest)," said Valentine, who added that he expects to have Ordonez in the lineup on Tuesday. ... Burrell`s outfield assist in the ninth inning was his league-leading ninth.

Phillies Trade Byrd
(Kansas City, Missouri-AP) – Former National League All-Star pitcher Paul Byrd is leaving the Phillies to go to Kansas City. The Royals are sending fellow right-hander Jose Santiago to Philadelphia in exchange. Byrd was oh-and-one with an eight-point-one-oh E-R-A for the Phillies. He is 29-and-29 with a four-point-seven-oh E-R-A in eight major league seasons with the New York Mets, Atlanta and Philadelphia.

Santiago – a releiver – was two-and-two with a six-point-seven-five E-R-A in 20 games with the Royals this year.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Phils Draft RHP #1

The Phillies on Tuesday selected right-handed pitcher Gavin Floyd in the first round of the baseball amateur draft.

Floyd, a 6-foot-5, 200-pounder, was the fourth pick overall. He graduated last week from Mount St. Joseph High School in Baltimore. This season, he was 8-2 with a 1.11 ERA in 10 games.

In 68 innings, Floyd had 103 strikeouts, allowed 23 hits and walked 24 batters.

"Floyd has power stuff, plus a fast ball with life and a strikeout curve ball," said Mike Arbuckle, the director of scouting for the Phillies. "He competes well and showed a great poise. He`s a No. 1 potential starter," said Mike Arbuckle, the director of scouting for the Phillies.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News