Leake The Hard Luck Loser As New York Mets Rally For a 4-2 Win

Mike Leake has been outstanding in his last two outings but has two losses to show for it.

"My job is to go out and keep them off the scoreboard," Leake said.  "Our hitting will come around.  We're in a slump right now but we'll go on a five, six or seven game streak soon."

In his last start, Leake allowed one run in six innings but the Reds were shutout in Pittsburgh.

R.A Dickey with his funky knuckleball kept the home team from scoring too.  The Reds broke through first in the bottom of the sixth when Miguel Cairo singled to open the inning. One out later Brandon Phillips hit a line shot off the right center field wall.  Cairo scored all the way from first to put the Reds up a run.  The Reds had runners on first and second with one out but Ramon Hernandez hit into a 5-4-3 double play.

Leake got into trouble with one out in the seventh. The National League's leading hitter, Jose Reyes singled.  Justin Turner followed with a bloop hit that Phillips would have normally played but Reyes was running and Phillips was heading to cover second.  The hit put runners on first and third.

Bill Bray relieved Leake.  Carlos Beltran, a Met at the moment, hit a sacrifice fly to left to get the visitors even.

On came "Big" Ondrusek.  The 6'7" righthander with the powerfull sinker was brought on in hopes he could induce a double play.  The pride of Shiner, Texas had not allowed a run in his last 11 appearances.  He had allowed just one run in his last 18 appearances covering 14 2/3 innings (0.63 ERA).

This was not his night.  David Wright singled.  David Murphy hit a double to the right field corner.  Jason Bay sliced a good pitch down the right field line and the Mets had a 4-1 lead.

"We made some pitches in some improper locations that one inning," Dusty Baker said.  "They blooped a couple in there, then they blasted a couple.  That was the ballgame.  We had some opportunities but didn't put the ball in play, where crazy things can happen.  They got the big hits and we didn't."

The Reds did score in the bottom of the seventh inning but squandered another opportunity. Paul Janish had three hits after returning from Louisville where his approach.  Janish doubled with one out.  Drew Stubbs singled up the middle to score Janish.  He stole second while Cairo walked. New York manager Terry Collins brought in his lone lefty, Tim Byrdak to face Jay Bruce.

When last seen, Byrdak, gave up the ninth inning home run to Bruce that clinched the 2010 Central Division for the Reds.  Byrdak was with Houston last season.  This time he struck Bruce out on three pitches.

The Mets traded their opening day closer Francisco Rodriguez to Milwaukee at the All-Star break.  Collins summoned veteran Jason Isringhausen, who tried to make the Reds two years ago but couldn't.

Janish hit a squibber down the first base line.  Murphy couldn't handle on it and three players, Janish, Murphy and Isringhausen converged at the base.  Murphy was able to tag the base before Janish.  The way the inning unfolded after that, the play was a key. Ryan Hanigan reached first when Wright couldn't play his ground ball. Stubbs struck out but Cairo hit a "Baltimore Chop" single over Wright's head.  Bruce walked on five pitches. This time Phillips struck out to end the game.