Diamondbacks  6    Mets  5

Recap: NY Mets vs. Arizona

Sports Network | August 3, 2009

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Mark Reynolds celebrated his 26th birthday in fine fashion, clubbing a pair of homers and driving in three runs as the Diamondbacks held off the New York Mets, 6-5, in the conclusion of a four-game series.

Reynolds, who clubbed four homers in this series, has seven round-trippers and 10 RBI over his last seven games. His 32 home runs on the season are two shy of St. Louis' Albert Pujols for the major league lead.

"I hit them pretty good. It is a big park, but I happened to hit four of them," said Reynolds.

Miguel Montero also homered for the Diamondbacks, who won for the fourth time in five games.

Dan Haren (11-6) was charged with eight hits and five runs over seven innings to earn the victory. The righty bounced back from a loss to Philadelphia last week and won for the fifth time in six decisions.

Arizona nearly blew a 6-0 lead after two innings, but held on with Chad Qualls retiring the side in order in the ninth for his 20th save of the year.

"It didn't go quite as planned for me, but we got the runs early. We barely got it to hold up," said Haren. "The bullpen closing it down was real nice."

Nelson Figueroa (0-2), who had his contract selected from Triple-A Buffalo earlier Monday, was pounded for 10 hits and six runs over 1 2/3 innings. He allowed three homers and suffered the loss.

"There were no soft outs," said Figueroa. "Even when I made a good pitch they found a way to put them in play and get doubles off them. The big hitters didn't miss. It's one of those days where nothing seems to go right and nothing seems to work."

Luis Castillo had a two-run single and Daniel Murphy smacked an RBI triple for the Mets, who have lost four of five since a five-game winning streak.

Arizona had five hits in the first inning, started by Stephen Drew's leadoff double and Gerardo Parra's RBI single up the middle. Parra was then caught stealing and Justin Upton grounded out, but Reynolds homered on a first offering to left-center and Montero took a Figueroa 2-2 offering over the wall in right.

Figueroa retired the first two batters of the second, but Parra doubled and Upton followed with an RBI single to left. Reynolds then crushed a 2-2 pitch to right field for a 6-0 lead. The Diamondbacks loaded the bases later in the inning, but Tim Redding escaped the jam by striking out Chris Young.

"I know Chase (Field) is known as a good hitter's park. Guys come in there licking their chops," Reynolds said of the Diamondbacks' home park. "The first time we took BP (batting practice) here we were like 'no way.' Everybody says it's hard to hit a homer here."

Omir Santos doubled to start the bottom of the third and Angel Pagan tripled to center one out later.

New York loaded the bases in the fifth and Castillo came through with a single to left-center. David Wright then singled to make it 6-4, but Gary Sheffield, who was activated from the disabled list Sunday, grounded into an inning- ending double play.

Murphy homered to right leading off the bottom of the sixth and the Mets put a runner in scoring position in the eighth when Sheffield doubled off reliever Jon Rauch. Murphy, though, fouled out and Jeff Francoeur grounded out to kill the rally.

Diamondbacks ace starter Brandon Webb, who has been out since Opening Day with a right shoulder injury, underwent season-ending surgery Monday. Webb had the debridement procedure done in Arlington, Texas...The Diamondbacks begin a three-game series at Pittsburgh Tuesday, while the Mets start a two-game set at home against St. Louis...Reynolds has hit safely in 13 straight road games...The Mets opened a roster spot for Figueroa by optioning left-handed pitcher Pat Misch to the Bisons. Figueroa, who was drafted by the Mets in 1995, was 7-1 with a 1.51 ERA in his last 10 starts with Buffalo...Parra and Ryan Roberts each had three hits for Arizona...New York's relievers of Redding, Bobby Parnell, Pedro Feliciano and Brian Stokes combined to allow just three hits...This was the seventh multi-HR game of Reynolds' career...Since joining the Diamondbacks prior to the 2008 season, Haren has allowed more than five earned runs only once in 55 starts...This was the shortest start in Figueroa's career.