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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
NEW YORK (AP) -- Despite a brief respite, the New York Mets still
haven't shaken their September swoon.
|  | | Brewers pitcher Paul Rigdon not only had a strong five-hitter Monday night, but he also singled and scored a run in Milwaukee's win over the Mets. |
Paul Rigdon pitched 6 2/3 solid innings and Richie Sexson
homered as the Milwaukee Brewers handed the Mets their eighth loss
in 10 games this month, 8-2 Monday night.
The Mets, who beat Philadelphia 3-0 Sunday, dropped three games
behind idle Atlanta in the NL East. New York entered the day 4½
games ahead of Arizona in the wild card race. The Diamondbacks
played Los Angeles later Monday.
"I don't know what concern means, I don't ever like to lose a
game," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. "We did not play well
and lost. They hit better than we did."
Rigdon (3-3), a right-hander acquired along with Sexson from
Cleveland in the Bob Wickman deal, allowed two runs and five hits
as Milwaukee won for the fifth time in his last six starts.
"I established the strike zone early, got ahead of hitters and
changed speeds," Rigdon said. "I got in trouble early with two
home runs, but I was able to correct it, get into a better groove
and make them put the ball in play."
Charlie Hayes also homered for the Brewers, who won for the
first time in six games at Shea Stadium since May 18, 1999 and
improved to 5-18 overall against the Mets.
Sexson extended his career-high hitting streak to 12 games by
leading off the second inning against Rick Reed (9-5) with his 12th
homer.
"It's better to do this (slump) at the beginning of the month
rather than like last year," Reed said. "We're still not in bad
shape. We're not the only ones struggling here. The Braves are not
playing very well. The Diamondbacks are not playing very well. This
was an opportunity for us to get close to Atlanta and separate
ourselves from Arizona."
Third baseman Matt Franco, who made a throwing error in the top
of the second, atoned in the bottom half with a one-out solo homer,
his second of the year.
Rigdon and Lou Collier hit consecutive one-out singles in the
third and scored on Mark Loretta's double to right-center, making
it 3-1. It was only Rigdon's second hit of the season in 10 at-bats
and first run scored.
"I fell behind some hitters, especially Mark Loretta," Reed
said. "That whole at-bat I just wasn't able to get ahead. I made
some pretty good pitches and he kept fouling them off. I had to
come in. When things are going good, he'd hit it at someone."
Benny Agbayani's 14th homer, a two-out solo shot to left in the
bottom half, cut it to 3-2. The Mets then loaded the bases on Derek
Bell's single and two walks, but Franco grounded out to end the
threat.
"Everyone seems to be in a funk all together. It's a
combination of everything," Franco said.
Rigdon, who faced the Mets for the first time, got help from
former New York and current Milwaukee pitching coach Bob Apodaca.
"I'm trying to make the best of my opportunity," Rigdon said.
"The Mets have a very talented club. I read our scouting reports,
watched tapes and give a lot of credit to our pitching coach. I'm
working on keeping a good solid rhythm. Hopefully this gives the
guys on our team a big boost and gives us a good second half of
September."
Geoff Jenkins led off the sixth with a double off the top of the
wall in right-center, and one out later Jeromy Burnitz was
intentionally walked. The move backfired when Hayes singled to load
the bases, and Ron Belliard singled to left to score Jenkins. Raul
Casanova's sacrifice fly made it 5-2.
After Bobby M. Jones hit Loretta with the bases loaded in the
eighth, Rich Rodriguez relieved and walked Jenkins on four pitches
to force home another run and make it 7-2. He finally struck out
Sexson to end the inning and drew the loudest cheer of the night.
Hayes added a solo homer in the ninth.
Reed allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings.
Game notes
Attendance was only 21,797 with the Yankees drawing more
than 40,000 and the Jets playing Monday Night Football at the
Meadowlands in New Jersey. ... Sexson has reached base safely in 20
straight games. Milwaukee is 9-3 when he homers. ... Bell is
5-for-9 in a four-game hitting streak. ... Regular Mets starting 3B
Robin Ventura wasn't in the lineup for the second straight game
with an 0-for-22 slump. Franco replaced him and batted fifth. ...
The Mets have 28 home runs in their last 25 games.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Milwaukee Clubhouse
NY Mets Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 4
NY Yankees 0
Chi. White Sox 10
Detroit 3
Baltimore 3
Anaheim 1
Oakland 5
Tampa Bay 1
Kansas City 6
Seattle 3
Philadelphia 5
Montreal 2
Montreal 7
Philadelphia 6
(2nd game)
Cincinnati 7
Chicago Cubs 6
St. Louis 8
Pittsburgh 4
Milwaukee 8
NY Mets 2
San Francisco 8
Houston 7
Los Angeles 6
Arizona 3
San Diego 7
Colorado 2
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