Mets Take 6th Straight; Trade for Reliever

The New York Mets look to be taking care of the teams that they should finally, after winning their sixth straight on the road today by a score of 4-0 behind a strong performance by Johan Santana, and the bats of Brian Schneider and Carlos Beltran.

Johan pitched his second complete game of the season and the fifth shutout of his career as he held the Pirates to three hits while striking out seven and walking nobody over the nine innings. The scoring for the Mets got started in the second when Schneider homered over the right field wall to stake the Mets out to an early 2-0 lead. Daniel Murphy scored in front of Schneider's homer after walking to lead off the inning. Then, in the top of the 4th, Schneider singled home Beltran for a 3-0 lead after Beltran singled to right to lead off the inning. In the top of the 6th, it was Beltran's turn to do some hitting as he hit his 17th homer of the season over the right field wall to give the Mets a 4-0 lead.

Second Baseman Argenis Reyes had three hits as well for the Mets, who have won six straight and 10 of 13. Santana retired his first 10 hitters before Shortstop Jack Wilson singled and Second Baseman Freddy Sanchez reached on an error by Jose Reyes in the fourth. Wilson had two hits for the Pirates, who have dropped four straight and seven of nine.

Santana threw 85 of 113 pitches for strikes en route to his eighth career complete game and second this season. His previous shutout was June 19, 2007, when he blanked the Mets while a member of the Twins. The win gave the Mets their six consecutive road win for the first time since 2001.

Before the game, the Mets announced that they had acquired some much needed bullpen help by getting Luis Ayala from the Nationals in exchange for up and coming Second Baseman Anderson Hernandez. A reliable reliever for the first four years of his career, Ayala has dipped to 1-8 with a 5.77 ERA this season. He's appeared in 62 games, which ranks among the major league leaders.

The 30-year-old Ayala was the longest-tenured Nationals player, having joined the club in 2003 when it was located in Montreal. He was 26-24 with a 2.82 ERA and nine saves in 258 appearances from 2003-07. He missed the 2006 season following elbow surgery, then returned to the mound last year and went 2-2 with a 3.19 ERA in 44 games."They're fighting for first place, so I'm going to do my best to clear my mind and try to help the bullpen," Ayala said.

Ayala pitched two scoreless innings against the Mets on Wednesday during New York's 12-0 victory at last-place Washington."The two innings he faced us, he threw strikes," Manuel said Sunday. "He attacked the hitters. I kind of expect the same thing. Plus, he's experienced. That's important."

To make room for Ayala on the 40-man roster, the Mets transferred outfielder Moises Alou from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. Alou is out for the season following hamstring surgery.

The 25-year-old Hernandez hit .138 in 35 games with the Mets from 2005-07, and was batting .203 with five homers and 36 RBIs in 125 games this year at Triple-A New Orleans.
Hernandez batted .301 in 128 games at New Orleans last year and would provide depth at shortstop for Washington.