Mike Pelfrey, Jose Reyes lead Mets over Cubs 4-0

[April 21, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Mike Pelfrey followed up his save Saturday with seven scoreless innings Tuesday night and Jose Reyes returned to the starting lineup and had a two-run triple among his four hits, leading the New York Mets to a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

The Mets took advantage of a two-out walk to Pelfrey in the second to score the game's first runs against a stingy Carlos Zambrano. Pinch-hitter Fernando Tatis had a two-run homer in the eighth inning for New York, which has won the first two games of a 10-game homestand.

The punchless Cubs have lost four in a row, scoring just six runs during the skid.

Mets top prospect Ike Davis went 0 for 3 with a walk in his second big league game and made a nifty running catch behind first base in the fourth. His dad, former Yankees reliever Ron Davis, was in the crowd after not having enough time get to Citi Field from Arizona to see his son's debut Monday.

Pelfrey (3-0), who didn't allow a hit until Mike Fontenot's one-out single in the fifth, extended his scoreless streak to 19 innings, matching a career high. He allowed three hits, walked three and struck out six.

He began a stretch of six splendid starts for New York's rotation Thursday with seven shutout innings against Colorado. Pelfrey also picked up the team's first save of the season, pitching the 20th inning of a 2-1 win over St. Louis on Saturday.

With his outing Tuesday, Mets starters have allowed just four earned runs in the last 38 innings and New York is 4-2 in that span. Pelfrey has three of the team's six wins -- plus that save against the Cardinals.

Reliever Ryota Igarashi strained his left hamstring when he slipped trying to retrieve Koyie Hill's bunt in front of the mound leading off the eighth for an error. Igarashi left after getting two outs. Fernando Nieve relieved with a runner on second and struck out Jeff Baker.

Francisco Rodriguez finished the three-hitter by pitching the ninth.

Reyes, held out of the starting lineup Monday night by manager Jerry Manuel for physical and mental reasons, followed the second-inning walk to Pelfrey with a liner into left-center. He slid headfirst into third as the throw went home and popped up to one knee, grinning broadly and clapping several times.

It was the sort of electric play the Mets have been waiting to see from their speedy shortstop, who missed all but 36 games last season with a hamstring injury and the beginning of April because of a hyperactive thyroid. His hit leading off the first snapped an 0-for-18 slide.

Looking recovered from the cramps in his calf and right index finger that hindered his previous start, Zambrano (1-2) kept to form, following a subpar outing (five innings, four runs against Milwaukee) with a solid one. He struck out nine for the second time this season and gave up six hits, while covering plenty of ground stalking around the mound after his three walks.

NOTES: Mets All-Star center fielder Carlos Beltran (knee) saw a doctor in Vail, Colo. He is making progress but still is not ready for baseball activities. ... Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly gave up a run on three hits and a walk over seven innings in a rehab start for Class-A Peoria. Manager Lou Piniella said Lilly will pitch this weekend in Milwaukee, likely on Saturday. ... Angel Pagan's homer in the seventh inning Monday was the Mets' first extra-base hit in 117 at-bats, the team's longest skid since going 121 at-bats in 1983. ... New York slugger Jason Bay struck out twice and has fanned 13 times in his last 25 at-bats.

[Associated Press; By HOWIE RUMBERG]

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