Reds 2, Mets 0

CINCINNATI – Cory Lidle topped stingy Tom Glavine and shut down the New York Mets for the second time in a week, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 2-0 victory.

Adam Dunn homered and Ryan Freel hit an RBI single off Glavine (7-5), whose 2.16 ERA run average is by far the best in the majors.

The Reds snapped a three-game losing streak behind Lidle (6-5), who has beaten his former team in each of his last two starts. The right-hander gave up three singles in seven shutout innings.

Todd Jones pitched a perfect eighth and Danny Graves completed the combined four-hitter for his 30th save in 37 chances.

The Reds drew their eighth capacity crowd of the season for a Sean Casey bobblehead giveaway. Casey was out of the lineup for a second straight game because of a strained calf, but spent more than a half-hour signing bobbleheads before the game.

Ken Griffey Jr. also was out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. His left calf got cramps as he warmed up on Tuesday, making him a late scratch.

Cincinnati’s patchwork lineup got the most out of its limited chances against Glavine, who is 25-12 career against the Reds.

D’Angelo Jimenez singled in the second and Lidle extended the inning with a two-out single, only the sixth hit of his career. Freel then singled sharply to left for a 1-0 lead.

An inning later, Glavine left a belt-high fastball over the middle of the plate for Dunn, then dropped his head in disgust and didn’t bother to watch the ball fly deep into the seats in center. It was only the seventh homer off the left-hander this season.

Dunn blew a big, pink bubble as he rounded third on his 23rd homer, second only to Philadelphia’s Jim Thome for the major league lead.

Glavine left for a pinch-hitter in the seventh after giving up a total of seven hits and a walk. He has limited opponents to two or fewer runs in 13 of his 17 starts.

New York’s struggling offense had another tough time against Lidle, who gave up only two runs in eight innings during a 6-2 victory in New York last Thursday.

He was enough tougher this time, giving up only two infield hits through the first six innings – Ty Wigginton’s single in the second and Glavine’s bunt single in the sixth.

The Mets are second-to-last in the NL in batting average and runs, ahead of only Montreal.

Lidle started to fade in the seventh, when Cliff Floyd singled and the Mets loaded the bases with a pair of two-out walks. Shane Spencer batted for Glavine and flied to center.

Notes: Mike Piazza made his 34th start at first base, one more than he has made as a catcher. He made his first career start at first on April 11. … RHP Scott Erickson cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. He pitched 7 2-3 scoreless innings against Pawtucket, giving up five hits and three walks. Erickson had been sidelined since April 4 because of a strained hamstring. … Reds INF Juan Castro made his second career start and fourth appearance overall at first base. … Lidle is 6-for-43 (.140) career. … The Mets have been shut out four times this season. The Reds have four shutouts.

AP-ES-06-30-04 2147EDT