Rod Barajas, Mets Beat The Reds Late, 5-4

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Rod Barajas grooved a first-pitch fastball over the left-field wall in the top of the ninth inning to give the New York Mets a 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the second of a three-game set at Great American Ball Park.

Barajas' team-leading seventh homer of the season came with two down off Reds' closer Francisco Cordero to break the Mets' three-game slide. David Wright also homered in the effort.

John Maine tallied his second consecutive quality start after allowing two runs -- one earned -- on four hits, with six strikeouts, in six innings. Pedro Feliciano (1-0) picked up the win and Francisco Rodriguez earned his fourth save of the season after tossing a perfect ninth.

Joey Votto and Scott Rolen tied the game with back-to-back homers in the bottom of the eighth for the Reds, who won the series opener on Monday with a game-winning blast in the bottom of the ninth.

Bronson Arroyo, who came in with a 6-2 career mark against the Mets, surrendered four runs on seven hits in seven frames. Cordero (1-2) was saddled with the defeat after allowing the game-winning run.

Fernando Nieve allowed the back-to-back Cincy blasts in the eighth with two outs. But Feliciano came in and got Jay Bruce to ground out to end the inning before Rodriguez retired the side in the ninth to put the game away.

The first three batters of the game singled to manufacture the Mets' first run. Angel Pagan led off with a pop-bunt single to right field. Luis Castillo followed with a hit-and-run single through the right side and Jose Reyes drilled one up the middle to plate Pagan.

Brandon Phillips quickly tied the game at one in the bottom of the first with a one-out solo shot off the left-field foul pole. The Reds took a one-run edge in the third when Laynce Nix scored on Jeff Francoeur's errant throw to third, which bounced short and skipped into the seats.

Wright tied the game at two in the fourth with a one-out solo blast, and the Mets took a 4-2 advantage in the sixth. Castillo led off with a walk and Reyes followed with a double down the right-field line to move Castillo to third. Jason Bay then drove in the second baseman with a sacrifice fly. Francoeur then drilled an RBI single right at Rolen, who couldn't make the throw to first.