Mets Rest the Regulars and Reds Take Advantage

CINCINNATI — Brandon Phillips broke the Cincinnati Reds' record for homers by a second baseman yesterday, hitting a two-run shot during a 7-0 victory that ended the Mets' five-game winning streak.

Right-hander Tom Shearn (2–0), a 30-year-old rookie relishing his long-awaited trip to the big leagues, gave up only three hits in six innings to a Mets lineup missing five of its regulars.

Phillips' 28th homer in the first inning off John Maine (14–9) surpassed Hall of Famer Joe Morgan's previous club mark for a second baseman. Phillips also homered in his last at-bat on Tuesday night.

Top hitting prospect Joey Votto homered for his first major league hit, helping the Reds emerge from a five-game losing streak that ended all talk of them sneaking back into contention in September.

The Mets headed for home in a good frame of mind.

The NL East leaders got swept in a four-game series in Philadelphia last week, letting the Phillies pull within two games. Instead of getting tight, the Mets got on their best run of the season.

They won five in a row before their loss Wednesday, putting themselves back in control. The Mets' best winning streak of the season was built upon a top-to-bottom offensive splurge — 46 runs over a six-game span.

After nearly a week of running the bases nonstop, manager Willie Randolph decided to give some of his regulars a day off. Moises Alou, Shawn Green, Paul Lo Duca, and Jose Reyes were out of the starting lineup for a day game following a night game.

Also, the Mets were missing first baseman Carlos Delgado, who pulled muscles in his right hip on a swing Tuesday night. Delgado was sent for a precautionary medical test to make sure the injury isn't serious.