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  Monday, Sep. 11 7:10pm ET
Mets have lost eight of 10
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

NEW YORK (AP) -- Despite a brief respite, the New York Mets still haven't shaken their September swoon.

Paul Rigdon
Brewers pitcher Paul Rigdon not only had a strong five-hitter Monday night, but he also singled and scored a run in Milwaukee's win over the Mets.

Paul Rigdon pitched 6 2/3 solid innings and Richie Sexson homered as the Milwaukee Brewers handed the Mets their eighth loss in 10 games this month, 8-2 Monday night.

The Mets, who beat Philadelphia 3-0 Sunday, dropped three games behind idle Atlanta in the NL East. New York entered the day 4½ games ahead of Arizona in the wild card race. The Diamondbacks played Los Angeles later Monday.

"I don't know what concern means, I don't ever like to lose a game," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. "We did not play well and lost. They hit better than we did."

Rigdon (3-3), a right-hander acquired along with Sexson from Cleveland in the Bob Wickman deal, allowed two runs and five hits as Milwaukee won for the fifth time in his last six starts.

"I established the strike zone early, got ahead of hitters and changed speeds," Rigdon said. "I got in trouble early with two home runs, but I was able to correct it, get into a better groove and make them put the ball in play."

Charlie Hayes also homered for the Brewers, who won for the first time in six games at Shea Stadium since May 18, 1999 and improved to 5-18 overall against the Mets.

Sexson extended his career-high hitting streak to 12 games by leading off the second inning against Rick Reed (9-5) with his 12th homer.

"It's better to do this (slump) at the beginning of the month rather than like last year," Reed said. "We're still not in bad shape. We're not the only ones struggling here. The Braves are not playing very well. The Diamondbacks are not playing very well. This was an opportunity for us to get close to Atlanta and separate ourselves from Arizona."

Third baseman Matt Franco, who made a throwing error in the top of the second, atoned in the bottom half with a one-out solo homer, his second of the year.

Rigdon and Lou Collier hit consecutive one-out singles in the third and scored on Mark Loretta's double to right-center, making it 3-1. It was only Rigdon's second hit of the season in 10 at-bats and first run scored.

"I fell behind some hitters, especially Mark Loretta," Reed said. "That whole at-bat I just wasn't able to get ahead. I made some pretty good pitches and he kept fouling them off. I had to come in. When things are going good, he'd hit it at someone."

Benny Agbayani's 14th homer, a two-out solo shot to left in the bottom half, cut it to 3-2. The Mets then loaded the bases on Derek Bell's single and two walks, but Franco grounded out to end the threat.

"Everyone seems to be in a funk all together. It's a combination of everything," Franco said.

Rigdon, who faced the Mets for the first time, got help from former New York and current Milwaukee pitching coach Bob Apodaca.

"I'm trying to make the best of my opportunity," Rigdon said. "The Mets have a very talented club. I read our scouting reports, watched tapes and give a lot of credit to our pitching coach. I'm working on keeping a good solid rhythm. Hopefully this gives the guys on our team a big boost and gives us a good second half of September."

Geoff Jenkins led off the sixth with a double off the top of the wall in right-center, and one out later Jeromy Burnitz was intentionally walked. The move backfired when Hayes singled to load the bases, and Ron Belliard singled to left to score Jenkins. Raul Casanova's sacrifice fly made it 5-2.

After Bobby M. Jones hit Loretta with the bases loaded in the eighth, Rich Rodriguez relieved and walked Jenkins on four pitches to force home another run and make it 7-2. He finally struck out Sexson to end the inning and drew the loudest cheer of the night.

Hayes added a solo homer in the ninth.

Reed allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings.

Game notes
Attendance was only 21,797 with the Yankees drawing more than 40,000 and the Jets playing Monday Night Football at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. ... Sexson has reached base safely in 20 straight games. Milwaukee is 9-3 when he homers. ... Bell is 5-for-9 in a four-game hitting streak. ... Regular Mets starting 3B Robin Ventura wasn't in the lineup for the second straight game with an 0-for-22 slump. Franco replaced him and batted fifth. ... The Mets have 28 home runs in their last 25 games.
 


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