Perez Dominates Brewers as Mets Take Series

Oliver Perez took a one-hit shutout into the ninth inning and Damion Easley drove in four runs, leading the Mets to a 9–1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday.

Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer with his pink Mother's Day bat and Easley also connected for the Mets, who won two of three in the series to cool off the NL Central leaders.

Milwaukee, which began the day with the best record in baseball at 25–11, had won 11 of 13.

Carlos Gomez had an exciting major league debut for New York, getting two hits and scoring twice. Called up from the minors before the game when struggling pitcher Mike Pelfrey was sent to Triple-A New Orleans, the speedy Gomez also stole a base and made a diving catch in right field.

David Wright had a career-best three stolen bases for the Mets, who handed Chris Capuano his first loss of the season. Easley finished with three hits, Jose Reyes scored twice and Perez even added an RBI single to help New York break it open with a five-run eighth.

Perez (4–3) cruised into the ninth before Bill Hall homered with one out. Mets manager Willie Randolph then pulled the lefthander, drawing loud boos from the Shea Stadium crowd of 51,427.

Fans quickly started cheering again as Perez bolted off the mound and jumped over the firstbase line on his way to the dugout — his regular custom. The cheers continued as he held his hat over his heart and waved to the crowd.

Aaron Heilman gave up a single to Johnny Estrada before finishing the three-hitter.

Perez retired seven of his first eight batters before Capuano blooped a single to left with one out in the third.

Easley hit a two-run homer and two RBI singles. Beltran homered in the eighth and Reyes had a runscoring triple.

Capuano (5–1) got off to a rocky start and never recovered. Reyes drew a leadoff walk in the first and Easley followed with his fifth homer.

Wright singled with one out, stole second and scored on Ramon Castro's two-out RBI single to make it 3–0. Easley added an RBI single in the second.

Capuano allowed four runs and seven hits in four innings, his second-shortest outing of the season. He threw eight sharp innings in a 3–0 victory over Washington in his previous start.