ESPN MLB

Mets 4, Giants 2

NEW YORK (AP) -- Once Orlando Hernandez got past an early hiccup, he was practically perfect.

Hernandez gave up two quick hits and little else over seven impressive innings, and the New York Mets beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2 Thursday night for their fifth win in six games.

"Sometimes you've just got to get your rhythm," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "El Duque is like that sometimes."

Jose Reyes energized the Mets with a leadoff walk, his major league-leading 29th steal and an RBI single.

Mets star Carlos Beltran bruised his right knee in a first-inning collision with Giants first baseman Rich Aurilia, and was pulled. He will get an MRI exam Friday.

The Mets were already running low on outfielders, with Moises Alou and Shawn Green on the disabled list. Beltran said the pain subsided as the night went on.

"I was a little concerned," he said.

Barry Bonds was steamed -- literally -- on a quiet night in which he went 0-for-3 and stayed at 746 career home runs. The Giants clubhouse was a bit muggy two hours before gametime, and he called for an attendant to turn on the air conditioning.

Hernandez (3-1) had his scoreless-inning streak stopped at a career-high 19 while sending the Giants to their fifth loss in six tries.

Randy Winn led off the game with a single, Omar Vizquel followed with a triple and Aurilia hit a sacrifice fly. That was about all the Giants managed against El Duque -- the only other runner they got against him was a walk to pitcher Matt Cain (2-5).

"I was feeling good right through the game," Hernandez said.

The victory was nearly a carbon copy of Hernandez's last outing, which came last week at Florida. Activated from the disabled list after a bout of bursitis in his right shoulder, he permitted a leadoff single and then retired the next 17 batters.

Hernandez struck out three and walked one. Featuring his usual assortment of pitches and deliveries, he also provided a little comic relief.

With a runner on first in the third inning, Hernandez fielded Winn's comebacker without realizing it was fouled off his foot. Hernandez instinctively whirled and fired to second -- with no one covering, the ball sailed into center field.

Joe Smith pitched the eighth and Billy Wagner finished the combined three-hitter with his 13th save. Wagner was successful on his 31st straight save chance overall, extending a team record.

The Mets' trio kept Bonds in the ballpark, though that's not so rare. He has 13 home runs in 419 career at-bats at Shea, by far his lowest rate at any stadium.

Cain was disappointed that he didn't hold the lead.

"When your team gives you two runs in the first and you give it back, that's a terrible thing to do," he said.

Down 2-0, Reyes and the Mets got going in a hurry. He drew a leadoff walk, swiped second and took third on a grounder.

Beltran hit a ground ball that second baseman Kevin Frandsen stopped with a dive to his left. His throw was wide and carried Aurilia across the bag, and Beltran clipped him.

Aurilia tumbled to the ground while Beltran stayed on his feet, and trainers from both teams came on the field. Each player stayed in the game, and Beltran scored from first on David Wright's tying, two-out double. Carlos Gomez replaced Beltran in center field to start the second.

Damion Easley doubled to begin the Mets second, Ben Johnson walked and Hernandez moved them along with a sacrifice. Reyes singled sharply for one run, and Endy Chavez got another home with a two-out bunt single.

Last month, Chavez pulled a similar trick in a bigger spot, with a two-out bunt single in the 12th inning beating Colorado.

Game notes

The Mets are 8-0 in series against teams outside the NL East. ... Vizquel hit his first triple of the season. He had a career-high 10 last year. ... The Giants open a four-game series at Philadelphia on Friday night. ... Johnson made his first start for the Mets and later singled. ... Reyes also was caught stealing for the fifth time.