Recap: NY Mets vs. Cincinnati

Sports Network | July 12, 2009

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Brian Schneider and Fernando Tatis homered in the seventh inning to break the Mets' dry spell, and New York held on to beat the Cincinnati Reds, 9-7, in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Mike Pelfrey (7-4) got the win after limiting the Reds to three runs on five hits and two walks in seven innings. Reliever Sean Green did not record an out in the eighth inning, when all three of the runners he allowed to reach base scored and the Reds started a comeback.

But New York held on, thanks to an offense that built up a big lead and snapped an eight-game homerless drought. Schneider's seventh-inning solo shot was the Mets' first since Tatis homered on July 2. Tatis had a pinch-hit homer later in the seventh on Sunday.

Luis Castillo had three hits, while Gary Sheffield went 2-for-5 and drove in three for the Mets, who won the final two games of this series. They go into the All-Star break with a 42-45 record, 6 1/2 games behind the first-place Phillies.

Reds starter Aaron Harang (5-9) gave up five runs on eight hits in three innings, and took the loss. Willy Taveras went 3-for-5 with an RBI, while Brandon Phillips added two hits and drove in two runs.

Cincinnati goes into the All-Star break at 42-45, having lost seven of its last 10 games.