Cincinnati Reds News

Carlos Beltran and Ryan Church hit back-to-back homers in the fifth inning to support Oliver Perez and lead the New York Mets to an 8-3 victory Sunday over the bumbling Cincinnati Reds. The Reds batted out of order in the ninth after an earlier double switch, with backup catcher David Ross coming to the plate in the No.

Throughout his horrendous start to the season, Bronson Arroyo insisted he was fine. He proved it on Saturday. Arroyo pitched eight dominant innings to win a matchup of struggling pitchers and Jeff Keppinger had a career-high five hits, lifting the Cincinnati Reds over the New York Mets 7-1 for a split of their day-night doubleheader.

Bronson Arroyo pitched eight dominant innings to win a matchup of struggling pitchers and Jeff Keppinger had a career-high five hits, lifting the Cincinnati Reds over the New York Mets 7-1 Saturday for a split of their day-night doubleheader. In the opener, Carlos Beltran hit a bases-loaded triple and drove in five runs to back Johan Santana’s first home win for the Mets in a 12-6 victory.

Carlos Beltran hit a bases-loaded triple and drove in five runs to back Johan Santana’s first home win for the Mets, and New York beat the Cincinnati Reds 12-6 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader Saturday. Carlos Delgado and Brian Schneider hit New York’s first back-to-back homers of the season, helping the Mets score 12 runs for the second consecutive game.

The scheduled game between the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets was postponed because of rain Friday night. It will be made up Saturday as part of a day-night doubleheader, with start times of 1:10 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Johan Santana is slated to pitch the opener for New York against Matt Belisle, with Mike Pelfrey getting the ball in Game 2 against Reds right-hander Bronson Arroyo.

Ken Griffey Jr. was removed from the Cincinnati Reds’ starting lineup Friday night against the New York Mets because of an illness. Three homers shy of 600, Griffey was to be replaced in right field by Ryan Freel. The start of the game was delayed because of rain. Second baseman Brandon Phillips also was out of the lineup with a sore left calf, sustained on a foul ball Wednesday.

Cincinnati Reds right fielder Ken Griffey Jr. and second baseman Brandon Phillips are not in the lineup for Friday’s game against the New York Mets.

Reliever Kent Mercker was put on the 15-day disabled list Friday by the Cincinnati Reds because of lower back pain. The move was made retroactive to Tuesday, before the start of its series at the New York Mets. The Reds recalled left-hander Bill Bray from Triple-A Louisville. Bray didn’t allow a run in four appearances for the Reds from April 28-May 4.

The Cincinnati Reds on Friday placed veteran lefthander Kent Mercker on the 15-day disabled list with lower back pain.

After the most impressive offensive performance of his brief major league career, Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto felt like he was back in Little League.