Dodgers beat banged-up, error-prone Mets 3-2 in 11

[May 19, 2009]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Errors by Gold Glove center fielder Carlos Beltran and fill-in first baseman Jeremy Reed in the 11th inning cost the New York Mets, who had the go-ahead run taken away on an appeal play after Ryan Church missed third base Monday night.

The Dodgers have won five of their last six games, after dropping four of their first five following the 50-game suspension Manny Ramirez received for violating baseball's drug policy. They are a major league-best 27-13 overall, and 14 games over .500 for the first time since finishing the 2006 season 88-74.

New York made five errors and blew a chance to take the lead in the 11th on a play that was right out of the Mets' 1962 playbook. Church singled with two outs against winner Ramon Troncoso (1-0) and came all the way around on Angel Pagan's drive to the fence in right-center.

But Church missed third base with his right foot and the Dodgers retired him on an appeal play. So instead of an RBI triple, Pagan had to settle for a single, his fourth hit of the game.

The next half-inning was just as embarrassing for the Mets. Xavier Paul's fly ball to left-center against Brian Stokes (1-2) fell between Pagan and Beltran -- who was charged with an error after the near collision.

An intentional walk to Juan Pierre loaded the bases for Rafael Furcal, who flied out to shallow left with New York employing a five-man infield.

Beltran stayed near second base and the infield remained in for Orlando Hudson, who hit a routine grounder to first. But Reed, who entered in the 10th as a pinch hitter, tried for the force at the plate and threw wildly past catcher Ramon Castro, leading to a wild celebration by the Dodgers.

Normally a backup outfielder, Reed replaced Fernando Tatis at first base. Tatis started again in place of injured slugger Carlos Delgado, who is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery Tuesday on his troublesome right hip and will be sidelined indefinitely.

Dodgers lefty Randy Wolf was charged with two runs and six hits over 7 2-3 innings, but ended up with a no-decision for the sixth time in seven starts.

Gary Sheffield tied it 2-all with a two-out RBI single off Los Angeles reliever Cory Wade in the eighth.

The Mets have lost two in a row after an 11-2 stretch. Reserve infielder Alex Cora joined Delgado on the disabled list shortly before game time because of a torn ligament in his right thumb.

Cora was in manager Jerry Manuel's original lineup to fill in at shortstop for Jose Reyes, who didn't start for the fifth straight game because of stiffness in his right calf. Ramon Martinez started at shortstop for the Mets after being called up from Triple-A Buffalo and committed two errors.

Tim Redding came off the DL for his Mets debut, allowing two runs in six innings.

Notes: The Mets are 76-55 since Manuel became manager. It's the best 131-game start by any of the 15 managers who lasted that long with the 48-year-old franchise. ... Beltran was 0 for 4 with a walk, ending his road hitting streak at 22 games and leaving him tied with Keith Hernandez for the franchise record. ... Redding, who pitched in one game for the Yankees in 2005, became the 106th player to play for both New York teams.

[Associated Press]

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