Carlos Beltran and Ryan Church hit back-to-back homers in the fifth inning to support Oliver Perez and lead the New York Mets to an 8-3 victory Sunday over the bumbling Cincinnati Reds. Perez (3-3) got his first win since April 19, though the left-hander still had trouble with his command at times. Perez cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one hit. His control started to waver in the fifth, when he walked Jeff Keppinger and hit Ryan P. Freel with a pitch that bounced in the dirt. But he struck out Joey Votto to escape the jam. Perez fanned left-handed hitters Votto, Paul Bako and Adam Dunn two times apiece. Perez lasted just six innings, allowing three hits and three runs. He walked four and struck out eight. (Updated 05/11/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/13/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Welcome back to the win column, Mr. Perez. The left-hander had dropped three straight starts, including two in which he allowed five earned runs. Perez continues to alternate good start with bad start and that is really frustrating to Fantasy owners who want to use the lefty as a consistent No. 3 arm in mixed leagues. Perez's next scheduled start is for Saturday against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Perez is 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA in four road starts this season and was 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in two starts against the Yankees last season. (Updated 05/11/2008).
Perez turned in a strong outing in the host Mets' 8-3 win over Cincinnati on Sunday in which the left-hander earned his first win since April 19. (Updated 05/12/2008)
Advice
Perez, who was 0-3 with an 8.10 ERA in his last three starts, gave up three runs and three hits, while striking out a season high-tying eight in six innings. He is 3-3 with a 4.61 ERA in eight starts. Perez also had a hit and stole his third career base - all of which have come against the Reds.
Carlos Beltran and Ryan Church hit back-to-back homers in the fifth inning to support Oliver Perez and lead the New York Mets to an 8-3 victory Sunday over the bumbling Cincinnati Reds. Perez (3-3) got his first win since April 19, though the left-hander still had trouble with his command at times. Perez cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one hit. His control started to waver in the fifth, when he walked Jeff Keppinger and hit Ryan P. Freel with a pitch that bounced in the dirt. But he struck out Joey Votto to escape the jam. Perez fanned left-handed hitters Votto, Paul Bako and Adam Dunn two times apiece. Perez lasted just six innings, allowing three hits and three runs. He walked four and struck out eight. (Updated 05/11/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/13/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Welcome back to the win column, Mr. Perez. The left-hander had dropped three straight starts, including two in which he allowed five earned runs. Perez continues to alternate good start with bad start and that is really frustrating to Fantasy owners who want to use the lefty as a consistent No. 3 arm in mixed leagues. Perez's next scheduled start is for Saturday against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Perez is 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA in four road starts this season and was 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in two starts against the Yankees last season. (Updated 05/11/2008).
= probable start
