during a disappointing regular season

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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 ................ 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. Gabriel Paletta Jersey . -- Those impatient for the Stanley Cup to return to Canada will have just one team to root for in the NHL playoffs -- the Montreal Canadiens. Custom AC Milan Jersey . - Leon Draisaitl scored a hat trick as the Prince Albert Raiders stormed past the Swift Current Broncos 5-2 in Western Hockey League action Tuesday. http://www.acmilansoccershop.com/c-9-al ... ersey.aspx. Colton Sissons also scored for Milwaukee (19-12-8), which went ahead with a two-goal third period. Wade MacLeod and Greg McKegg replied for Toronto (23-12-4). Manuel Locatelli Jersey . Louis Cardinals for the National League Wild Card, are in the drivers seat as they open the final series of the regular season, but they face a large task in the form of the Philadelphia Phillies. Jherson Vergara Jersey . CSKA received the heavier punishment of playing its next European home game behind closed doors, after its supporters displayed racist and far-right symbols in the Czech Republic during a 2-1 loss to Viktoria Plzen on Dec.EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Marian Gaboriks new teammates with the Los Angeles Kings initially wondered whether such a talented goal-scorer could fit into a defence-dominated team when he arrived in a trade last month. Nobody is wondering anymore after Gaborik helped the Kings reach the post-season on a roll. "It took me a little bit, but I think I adjusted pretty good," Gaborik said Tuesday while the Kings prepared for their first-round opener against San Jose. Gaborik scored 16 points in 19 games as the Kings top-line left wing down the stretch, adapting his game to coach Darryl Sutters preferences while still providing his own unique offensive talents to the NHLs best defensive team. He fits in well in his third dressing room in two seasons, with teammates praising the veterans commitment and talent with equal enthusiasm. "I think hes been our best player since hes got here," defenceman Drew Doughty said. "No matter who gets traded here, you wonder how theyre going to fit into the system," Doughty added. "(But) he played in Minnesota. He knew how to play that system back in the day. Hes obviously ..... offensively, but he is good defensively. He tries his best, and thats all you can ask." Although Los Angeles has reached back-to-back conference finals, offence is seemingly always a concern. The Kings are the lowest-scoring team in the NHL post-season with just 198 regular-season goals, but Gaboriks arrival has assuaged many fears about their ability to score enough goals to win in the spring. Gaboriks impressive speed immediately changed opponents defensive game plans after his arrival from Columbus. He finally became the goal-scoring left wing that the Kings have long lacked to play alongside Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles sublime playmaker and two-way centre. Justin Williams plays the right side on a suddenly potent top line, and Gaboriks arrival allowed the Kings to balance out their depth lines as well. Gaborik has five goals with his famously vicious wrist shot, but he has been even more valuable with 11 assists. He put together a three-ppoint game in the Kings road finale in Edmonton last Thursday.dddddddddddd Gaborik sees nothing special in his handling of what could have been a rough assignment in Los Angeles. Playing for Sutter didnt scare Gaborik after his experience under coaches with similar defensive demands such as Jacques Lemaire in Minnesota and John Tortorella with the Rangers. "Just go out there, work hard and follow the system," Gaborik said. "Make sure youre on the right side of the puck, and be in the right position when youre skating. Be on top of things." Gaboriks arrival and Los Angeles ensuing excellence have echoed the Kings success two years ago after they acquired Jeff Carter from Columbus during a disappointing regular season. Carter added his goal-scoring skills to a low-scoring lineup, and the Kings goals-per-game average rose — just as it did this season after Gaborik pulled on a black jersey. Doughty initially thought Gaborik was "more of just a scorer," but quickly realized there was much more to his new teammate. "Hes kind of a guy like Carts, where Carts just seems to put pucks in the net," Doughty said. "You dont understand how it goes in. It just goes in. Hell obviously get the pretty ones, too, but I thought he was just a pure goal-scorer. Just sat in the slot and found pucks and put them in. But hes a great passer, too, and hes good at finding open ice. Hes good at getting support for his linemates and getting them out of a battle and then making a play to create an opportunity." While still near the prime of his career, the 32-year-old Gaborik is an impending free agent with a history of injury woes, so he realizes the urgency of every remaining chance at a Stanley Cup title. He has reached two conference finals in his NHL career, but never played for the Cup. "You get that feeling that youre getting close, but its really hard," Gaborik said. "Im really going to embrace this opportunity and take it, and Im very excited for that. It doesnt come every year, and we feel we have a good team to do it." China Jerseys ' ' '