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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) -- Al Leiter took a while to get comfortable. Robin
Ventura took no time at all.
Leiter retired 18 of his final 19 batters and Ventura hit a
two-run homer in the first inning Wednesday as the New York Mets
beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 to finish their nine-game homestand
with only one loss.
|  | | Robin Ventura is congratulated by Mike Bordick after hitting what proved to be the game-winning home run. |
The Reds loaded the bases against Leiter in the first and scored
their only run in the second, but they couldn't get another runner
on base against the left-hander.
"I think early on I didn't feel strong with my fastball
velocity-wise," said Leiter, who was removed for a pinch-hitter in
the seventh. "I felt I had to pitch more and move the ball around
more. It took me a couple of innings to really get back to being
aggressive."
Ventura, who returned from the disabled list last weekend, hit
his 17th home run and first since June 24 as New York took two of
three from the Reds following a three-game sweep against St. Louis
-- the top two NL Central teams.
"When you're out two weeks, it's more about seeing the ball and
feeling comfortable," said Ventura, who was 2-for-4 batting third
for the first time this season. "I'm just seeing the ball better
and I'm not pulling off the ball like I was before I went on the
DL."
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Reds pitcher Dessens
passes out from dehydration
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NEW YORK -- Cincinnati right-hander Elmer Dessens passed out
while walking to the team bus Wednesday and was treated for
dehydration after he pitched seven innings of the Reds' 2-1 loss to
the Mets.
Dessens was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital to receive
fluids, the Reds said. He was released from the hospital later
Wednesday and flew home to Cincinnati, Reds media relations
director Rob Butcher said.
It was the second medical scare for the Reds in the three-game
series at Shea Stadium. Pitching coach Don Gullett rejoined the
team for Wednesday's game, two days after he experienced tightness
in his chest.
Gullett was released from New York Medical Center late Tuesday night,
following a series of tests. The 49-year-old coach said doctors
ruled out a heart attack. He had a heart attack in 1986 and
underwent triple-bypass surgery in 1990.
Gullett is expected to travel home with the Reds and
see his doctor in Cleveland on Thursday.
-- Associated Press
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Leiter (12-4), won his second straight start after three
consecutive losses. He allowed only four hits, struck out eight --
including his last three batters -- and walked one.
"Al probably didn't have his best stuff today, but he had his
best competitiveness and gave us seven strong innings," Mets
manager Bobby Valentine said. "He made big pitch after big pitch
in the first inning."
The Mets, who have the most home wins in the NL with 37, are
16-5 in games started by Leiter this season.
John Franco, who worked out of a key eighth-inning jam in
Tuesday night's 3-2 victory, allowed a two-out hit in the eighth
before Turk Wendell threw one pitch, getting Dante Bichette to
ground out. Armando Benitez pitched a perfect ninth for his 27th
save in 31 chances. Benitez has not allowed an earned run in 17 1/3
innings.
"You're coming in and holding the other team down," said
Franco of the bullpen that has five saves and a 0.93 ERA in its
last 12 games. "You'd hate to see the starters have nothing to
show for it with a no-decision or loss."
Chris Stynes doubled to lead off the game for the Reds and moved
to third with two outs. Leiter walked Bichette and hit Dmitri Young
to load the bases, but struck out Alex Ochoa to end the inning.
In the bottom of the first, Mike Bordick doubled and Ventura
homered with one out, giving New York the lead.
"I thought all of Robin's swings today were Robin-esque,"
Valentine said. "He's a guy we're going to count on, depend on,
lean on and jump on his back a few times before this thing is
over."
The Reds cut it to 2-1 in the second when Benito Santiago and
Pokey Reese singled to start the inning. Elmer Dessens sacrificed
the runners to second and third and Stynes drove in Santiago with a
sacrifice fly.
"If you don't get Leiter early, you aren't going to get him,"
Cincinnati manager Jack McKeon said.
Dessens (5-1) had won four straight starts after replacing Denny
Neagle, who was traded to the New York Yankees on July 12. In seven
innings, Dessens allowed six hits, struck out five and walked one.
"He pitched extremely well," McKeon said "We have to keep him
on a roll. We pitched as good as we could and still lost two."
The Mets, who played without Edgardo Alfonzo and Mike Piazza,
won by one run for the sixth time in their last seven victories.
Game notes
2B Alfonzo sat out with a bruised shin. He was injured
Tuesday when Ochoa slid into him. Piazza was given a day off
following the night game. ... Bordick batted leadoff for the first
time with New York. ... The Reds have not been
shut out since last year's wild card playoff game when Leiter and
the Mets won a 5-0 two-hitter -- spanning all 107 games this season.
Cincinnati is the only team not to be shut out. ... The Reds faced
left-handed starters in all three games against the Mets. The Reds
last saw three straight lefties on Aug. 3-5, 1997. ... Neagle was
the last Reds pitcher to win four straight starts when he won six
consecutive last Aug. 30-Sept. 25. ... The Mets swept Montreal
three straight to start the homestand.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Cincinnati Clubhouse
NY Mets Clubhouse
RECAPS
Kansas City 4
NY Yankees 1
Minnesota 10
Baltimore 6
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Toronto 4
Detroit 5
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