NEW YORK -- Lucas Duda made the Mets look awfully smart, for one night at least. Roger Craig Red Jersey . Duda hit a pair of two-run homers only hours after the team gave him the starting job at first base, and New York beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 Friday behind Jenrry Mejia for its first victory of the season. "Im just glad to play and contribute any way I can," said the soft-spoken Duda. "Its just one day." Replacement closer Jose Valverde struck out Jay Bruce with two on to end it, and the Mets avoided their first 0-4 start since opening with five consecutive losses in 2005. The 24-year-old Mejia (1-0), who beat out Daisuke Matsuzaka for the final spot in the rotation, struck out a career-high eight in six innings. Flashing a sharp breaking ball, he allowed one run and four hits in a steady rain and mist. "It was a good game for us tonight. We needed it bad," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "Were a better team than weve played." Bruce homered and drove in three runs for the Reds, who had won six straight at Citi Field. Mike Leake (0-1) gave up five hits and three walks in 6 2-3 innings. "It was the Lucas Duda-Jay Bruce show, and Duda won," Leake said. Mets left fielder Eric Young Jr. robbed Brandon Phillips of a home run, and backup catcher Anthony Recker threw out speedy pinch-runner Billy Hamilton trying to steal second for a big out in the eighth. New Yorks maligned bullpen, which compiled a 10.61 ERA during Washingtons three-game sweep to start the season, held on this time behind Valverde and fellow veteran Kyle Farnsworth, who got four outs. The excitable Valverde worked the ninth for his first save with the Mets. He took over as closer when Bobby Parnell went on the disabled list with a partially torn ligament in his right elbow after blowing a save on opening day. "I remember Valverde back in 2009 when he was throwing 99 mph," Bruce said. "He came right at me tonight. I just missed the one pitch and then he finished me off with the splitter. Pretty typical Valverde." Mejia struck out five of his first eight batters and overcame five walks, which matched a career high. His right ankle was wrapped after the game -- Phillips third-inning grounder hit him just above the outside part of his foot -- but he said he was fine. Mejia pounded his glove and pointed to left field when Young robbed Phillips of a first-inning homer. "I was just pumped up," Young said. "It ended up being the difference in the game because it was one run, so it was huge." Bruce put Cincinnati ahead with an RBI single in the third. Curtis Granderson beat the shift in the fourth when he grounded a leadoff double inside third base. Duda drove the next pitch into the Mets bullpen in right-centre for a 2-1 lead. "Sometimes its just about confidence," said Collins, who chose Duda at first over incumbent Ike Davis. "And maybe once in a while, when you feel good about yourself, you can start to do what everybody expects you to do." David Wright opened the sixth with an infield single and, after Bruce robbed Granderson of extra bases with running catch in deep right-centre, Duda ripped a line drive over the fence in right for his fifth career multihomer game. Duda is 6 for 8 against Leake with three extra-base hits. "Hes a guy that sees me well. It didnt help that the two pitches he hit werent quality pitches," Leake said. Bruce cut it to 4-3 in the seventh with a two-run drive off reliever John Lannan. NOTES: Cincinnati rested Hamilton (0 for 12) and SS Zack Cozart (0 for 11). "For no other reason than trying to make sure that our other guys stay sharp," manager Bryan Price said. CF Roger Bernadina drew three walks in his first start for Cincinnati, and Ramon Santiago became the 24th Reds shortstop to play next to Phillips. ... It was the first stolen base attempt of the season for Hamilton, who set a professional baseball record in 2012 with 155 steals combined at Class A Bakersfield and Double-A Pensacola. The only other catcher to throw him out in 15 major league tries was Juan Centeno of the Mets on Sept. 25 last year. ... Mejia threw a career-high 101 pitches. ... Mets RHP Dillon Gee starts Saturday against RHP Johnny Cueto. Perrish Cox Red Jersey .com) - Top-seeded former winner Novak Djokovic, who survived an injury scare, and defending champion Andy Murray highlighted Fridays third-round winners at Wimbledon. Phil Dawson Jersey.com) - The Edmonton Oilers have been in spoiler mode for a while now, however as the season winds down they become more and more dangerous to opponents fighting for a playoff berth.ERIE, Pa. - Connor Brown extended his lead atop the Ontario Hockey League scoring race as the Erie Otters doubled up the visiting Kingston Frontenacs 6-3 on Friday. Brown, a Toronto Maple Leaf prospect, scored three times and added an assist, increasing his season totals to 31 goals and 92 points in 44 games. Brendan Gaunce, Quentin Maksimovich and Michael Curtis also scored for the Otters (35-7-2). Connor McDavid had four assists while Adam Pelech chipped in with three. Mikko Vainonen, Robert Polesello and Samuel Schutt scored for the Frontenacs (24-16-4), who dropped their fourth game in a row. Eries Oscar Dansk made 26 saves as Kingstons Matt Mahalak stopped 29-of-35 shots in a losing cause. The Otters were 3-for-3 on the power play while the Frontenacs scored twice on seven chances with the man advantage. Eries Dane Fox is second to Brown in scoring with 82 points in 44 contests. --- WOLVES 1 WHALERS 0 PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- Franky Palazzese earned his fifth shutout of the season as Sudbury blanked the Whalers for its fifth win in six outings. Palazzese turned aside 34 shots for the Wolves (25-10-7) while Nicolas Baptiste scored the games only goal at 7:01 of the first period. Alex Nedeljkovic made 34 saves for Plymouth (16-22-5), including 20 in the second period. The Whalers are now 8-9-3 on home ice. --- GREYHOUNDS 6 STING 2 SARNIA, Ont. -- Tyler Gaudet and Bryan Moore each had a goal and an assist as Sault Ste. Marie earned its fifth win in a row by downing the Sting. Tyler Hore, Blake Speers, Jared McCann and Patrick Watling also scored for the Greyhounds (31-10-5). Daniel Nikandrov and Nikita Korostelev scored for Sarnia (14-24-5). Brandon Halverson made 22 saves for Sault Ste. Marie while Taylor Dupuis turned away 36-of-42 shots for the Sting. --- STORM 4 RANGERS 1 KITCHENER, Ont. -- Guelph used its power play against the Rangers to pick up its fourth win in a row. Robby Fabbri, Brock McGinn and Scot Kosmachuk scored with the man advantage for the Storm (33-8-3) while Matt Finn scored even strength. Justin Nichols made 28 saves for the victory. Kitchener (15-27-2) gott its goal from Dominik Kubalik while Jordan DeKort turned away 17-of-21 shots in a losing cause. Ronnie Lott White Jersey. Guelph went 3 for 3 on the power play as the Rangers 0 for 5. --- SPIRIT 3 KNIGHTS 1 LONDON, Ont. -- Jake Paterson made 59 saves, including 29 in the third period, as Saginaw toppled the Knights for its fifth straight victory. Justin Kea scored twice for the Spirit (21-17-5) and Dylan Sadowy had the other. Bo Horvat scored the lone goal for London (29-10-5) while forward Ryan Rupert was stopped on a penalty shot in the first period. Anthony Stolarz started in net for the Knights, but left the game three minutes into the first period with an injury. Jake Patterson replaced Stolarz and stopped 26-of-28 shots in relief. --- BATTALION 4 STEELHEADS 1 MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Nick Paul scored once and set up two more as North Bay defeated the Steelheads. Alex Henriksson, Ben Thomson and Zach Bratina also scored for the Battalion (22-17-6) and Vincent Praplin had two assists. Nick Zottl scored for Mississauga (16-26-4), which dropped its fifth game in a row. Jake Smith made 24 saves for North Bay. Dawson Carty stopped 24 shots for the Steelheads. --- BULLS 5 67s 2 OTTAWA -- Niki Petti and Jake Worrad scored 17 seconds apart to spark a third-period comeback as Belleville handed the 67s their third straight defeat. Stephen Harper, Jordan Subban and Cameron Brace also scored for the Bulls (13-26-4), who trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes before scoring four unanswered goals. Erik Bradford scored both goals for Ottawa (14-24-4). Bellevilles Charlie Graham made 28 saves for the win. Philippe Trudeau gave up five goals on 29 shots for the 67s. --- GENERALS 5 ATTACK 2 OSHAWA, Ont. -- Scott Laughton had two goals and two assists as the Generals beat Owen Sound. Cole Cassels also had a pair of goals for Oshawa (28-12-4) and Mitchell Vande Sompel scored the other. Brayden Rose and Holden Cook supplied the offence for the Attack (20-17-6), who are winless in four contests. Daniel Altshuller made 28 saves for the Generals while Brandon Hope turned away 27 shots for Owen Sound. cheap jerseys ' ' '
