News » The Brazilian-born strikers brace drew him level

NEW YORK -- Alfredo Simon making his first start in more than two years. Manny Parra stepping into the closers spot. Turns out, all the Cincinnati Reds needed for a win in New York was a little role reversal. Simon pitched seven impressive innings and began the go-ahead rally with his second career hit and Parra got the final six outs for his first career save, helping the Reds beat the Mets 2-1 Sunday to salvage a win in the three-game series. "At the end of the game I didnt even really know what to do," Parra said. "It was awesome." Joey Votto had a sacrifice fly and Ryan Ludwick a tiebreaking single off Jonathon Niese (0-1), who was making his first start of the season after a being slowed by shoulder and elbow injuries this spring. Simon (1-0) made 99 relief appearances for the Reds since his previous start, on Sept. 28, 2011, for Baltimore, but manager Bryan Price tapped the right-hander because Mat Latos is rehabbing from knee and elbow operations. Price said Simon is one of the most durable guys on the staff and had no problem letting him go deep into the game. He lifted Simon for the left-handed Parra to start the eighth after allowing just four hits and throwing 79 pitches. "I was thinking I was a starter before and this is a good opportunity for me, and I tried to show the best I can," Simon said after his 20th career start. "Everything worked." Parra made 74 starts for the Brewers before switching to relief work in 2010. He retired all six batters he faced, pitching the ninth instead of J.J. Hoover, who gave up Ike Davis walkoff grand slam Saturday. Parra struck out Davis to end the Reds second win of the season then stood atop the mound for a moment before pounding his glove and walking toward catcher Brayan Pena. "Cant ask for any more for Simon and Manny Parra," Price said. Niese was nearly as effective in his debut, allowing six hits and two runs in 5 2-3 innings in front of dozens of dogs at Citi Field on Bark in the Park day. "I feel good, felt like the ball was coming out of my hand pretty well, obviously didnt have any pain," Niese said. The Mets, though, wasted an opportunity to complete a sweep ahead of a nine-game road trip that begins in Atlanta on Tuesday. The Mets finished their first homestand of the season 2-4. Simon took the mound in a game for the first time since March 24 but there was little rust. After an easy first for Simon, Davis slashed a sharp one-out grounder the opposite way down the third base line, a spot vacated by the pull shift, for a double. Davis scored on Juan Lagares single for a 1-0 lead. An inning later, Simon walked Niese and Eric Young Jr. doubled to left-centre with one out. But Daniel Murphy and David Wright struck out, starting a run of 10 in a row that ended when Simon hit Wright with a pitch. Simon started the Reds go-ahead rally in the sixth by lacing a line drive over Murphys head. Chris Heisey, in the lineup for Billy Hamilton, who has a jammed left middle finger, and Brandon Phillips each singled to load the bases. Votto followed with a sacrifice fly and Ludwick the tiebreaking hit, a single to left for a 2-1 lead. "The way he kept his sinker down and the fact he got a base hit, it was very exciting," Pena said of Simon. "He got us going." Jay Bruce grounded to first base, ending Nieses day on his 90th pitch. Gonzalez Germen relieved and pitched around Todd Frazier to face Zack Cosart with the bases loaded. Cosart grounded out to extend his hitless start to 0 for 18. Cosart then flew out to right field in the ninth. NOTES: Simon singled last season against Pittsburgh. ... Phillips has a hit in all 29 games hes played against the Mets in New York. ... Reds CF Billy Hamilton did not start for second straight day because of a jammed left middle finger. He thinks hell be able to play Monday at St. Louis. ... Mets INF Wilmer Flores was sent to Triple-A Las Vegas to make room for Niese. ... Mets manager Terry Collins said hes sticking to the plan to have Lucas Duda serve as starting first baseman. ... Reds reliever Jonathan Broxton pitched the second of back-to-back outings for Double-A Pensacola. He gave up a hit in a scoreless inning Saturday night. ... Price said C Devin Mesoraco (strained oblique) is set to meet the team in St. Louis. Sami Khedira Juventus Jersey . First-half goals by Will Bruin and Oscar Boniek Garcia sucked the life out of the Impact as the Houston Dynamo bounced them from Major League Soccers post-season with a 3-0 victory on Thursday. Mattia Perin Juventus Jersey .Kessy tried to show what he can do playing left wing for the Oilers in 5-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday in pre-season action. http://www.juventusfcpro.com/Kids-Leonar...nazzola-Jersey/. The above paragraph could be rewritten, verbatim, with Marcus Stromans name in place of Romeros. After both men had disastrous outings in Tuesdays 18-4 mauling at the hands of the Tigers, its clear that neither is the best option to begin the season in Toronto. Leonardo Bonucci Jersey . The Brazilian-born strikers brace drew him level with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as the leagues leading scorers with 17 goals apiece through 16 rounds. "The important thing is to help the team win, not the goals," Diego Costa said. After a first half dominated by defence, Atletico pressed Valencia into its area and Diego Costa did the rest. Wojciech Szczesny Juventus Jersey . "I could have been equipment manager but nooooo" from Lisa on Ice. Season 6, Episode 8. TORONTO -- Dont forget about Simon Pagenaud. That was the statement made by the French driver after he set the fastest practice time Friday at the Honda Indy Toronto. Pagenaud clocked one minute 00.0084 seconds at the 11-turn, 2.81-kilometre street course at Exhibition Place. IndyCar points leader Helio Castroneves was second in 1:00.0218 while Scott Dixon followed in 1:00.0769. Will Power, second overall in the standings, finished fourth while James Hinchcliffe of Oakville, Ont., trailed in fifth. Pagenaud enters the weekend doubleheader fourth in the standings, 50 points behind Castroneves with two wins and one pole. His practice times were cause for optimism for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports after Pagenaud finished ninth and 12th in both Toronto races last year. "I think last year we had a lot of issues with our brakes," said Pagenaud. "It was a difficult weekend, we really never, never had a proper run. It was a nightmare. It was inside, in-house that we needed to do some work. "We ironed all those details and I think now we have a very different approach, obviously we go to each race with the will to win. Which is very different, we had the will before but we didnt believe truly that we could do it. Now we do." Pagenaud will get the benefit of the doubt after the afternoon practice was cut short by a pair of red flags that may have prevented better times. Castroneves caused a long delay after stopping on track with ann electrical issue, and the session later ended under another flag when Ryan Briscoe stalled on track.dddddddddddd Josef Newgarden had the fastest time in the morning practice. He finished 13th in the afternoon. Pagenauds pace shouldnt be a surprise even if the 30-year-old is flying under the radar in the IndyCar championship race. He finished third overall last year and has plenty of time to make a move with six races remaining ahead of the season finale at Fontana on Aug. 30. "In my position, and thats the way I think things, you could put pressure on yourself if you want to but whats the point? Whats going to happen is Im either going to win the championship or Im not going to win it," said Pagenaud. "So the goal is obviously to win and Im going to focus as hard as I can on my stuff. My car is fast, has been fast lately, and were in good shape to do it. Now we need to execute, and thats the most important." Hinchcliffes day meanwhile, got off to rocky start with his car suffering from a cooling problem that delayed his session. The issue became moot when he finally got on track -- he briefly had the fastest time and finished third in the morning. "(The car) is a handful," said Hinchcliffe. "This track is always such a challenge for us set-up wise, and were seeing that again here today even though were less than a tenth off the pace. Its hard work out there trying to get that (fast lap)." ' ' '