NEW YORK — Though the Reds set a record Saturday by scoring a run, Chris Reitsma's ability to prevent runs was a more striking achievement.

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Chris Reitsma mows down the Mets. (AP photos) 600 | 800 | 1024

        Facing circumstances that might have intimidated many rookies — a sellout crowd at Shea Stadium, the menacing lineup of the defending National League champion New York Mets, a formidable mound opponent in ace left-hander Al Leiter — Reitsma lasted 7 1/3 impressive innings in his third major-league start as the Reds prevailed, 1-0.

        Danny Graves rescued Cincinnati from a bases-loaded jam for the second game in a row, relieving Reitsma and inducing Mike Piazza's double-play grounder to end the eighth inning. Graves pitched a perfect ninth to secure his third save and the Reds' third straight victory.

        Reitsma (2-0) also helped generate the game's lone run by singling off Leiter (0-2) to open the sixth inning. The Reds extended their consecutive-games streak without being blanked to 175, establishing a modern NL mark that's still far behind the 1931-33 New York Yankees' major-league standard of 308.

        “It's important to me, because I've been involved in just about all those games,” said Dmitri Young, whose groundout drove in the run that lifted Cincinnati to .500 (6-6).

        Reitsma's unusually calm demeanor, which drew praise in both clubhouses, attracted more attention than the Reds' mostly meaningless scoring record.

Reitsma gets congratulations from manager Bob Boone. | ZOOM |

        “You never see any reaction, stress or excitement in regard to what's going on. You can see him turn it up a notch when he has to. That's what it's all about,” said Reds pitching coach Don Gullett, who distributes accolades sparingly. “It's refreshing to see a guy 23 years old who goes out with that type of mound savvy. He's pitching like a 30-year-old right now.”

        “He showed a lot of poise for a younger pitcher,” Piazza said of Reitsma, who lowered his ERA to 1.40 with the longest outing by a Reds starting pitcher this season.

        Reitsma shrugged off the raves in aw-shucks fashion.

        “You know what? It's baseball,” said the right-hander, who threw 60 strikes in 97 pitches. “(Home plate) is still 60 feet, six inches away. If it's baseball, I can deal with it. I just try to stay in that mindset and keep the game on the field. Whether it's 50,000 people are in the stands or 100,000 and they're yelling at me, it doesn't matter. You have to be able to block that out and I think I did a pretty good job of that.”

Kelly Stinnett tags out Joe McEwing in the sixth inning. | ZOOM |

        Reitsma encountered sporadic trouble. He allowed only three Mets to reach scoring position through the first seven innings, and two of them got that far with two outs.

        The Mets seriously threatened Reitsma in the sixth, when Joe McEwing walked leading off, stole second base and went to third on catcher Kelly Stinnett's throwing error. Reitsma fanned Edgardo Alfonzo and coaxed Robin Ventura's grounder to Pokey Reese, who threw out McEwing at home plate.

        Reitsma thrived primarily with his change-up, which he dared to throw even when he was behind on the count.

Juan Castro starts 8th-inning DP. | ZOOM |

        Gullett, again referring to Reitsma's age, called this a unique skill.

        “It looks like my fastball,” said Reitsma, who throws his change-up about 10 miles an hour slower than his fastball. “Whenever it's a fastball count, I almost feell like I'm in charge because I can throw it — 3-1, 3-0, 2-1, it doesn't matter.”

        “Most guys who are 23 years old have to get a feel for a change-up that they can throw for a strike, period,” Gullett said. “But he works both sides of the plate with it and feels very comfortable in doing that. It's special.”

        Reitsma's success at throwing the change-up in various situations wasn't lost on the Mets.

        “He kind of "pitched backwards' with it. He wasn't trying to get back in the count with a fastball when he fell behind,” Ventura said. “When you looked for it, he would give it a different look.”

Danny Graves freezes Tsuyoshi Shinjo for the last out. | ZOOM |

        There was nothing different about Graves, who arrived on the scene after pinch hitter Lenny Harris singled, Alfonzo walked and Ventura singled to fill the bases. Up came Piazza, the eight-time All-Star and prospective Hall of Famer.

        Graves threw a 1-1 pitch that Piazza described as a hard slider. Piazza connected solidly, but grounded it within reach of shortstop Juan Castro, who started the double play.

        “I basically kind of knew that pitch was coming,” Piazza said. “Sometimes you know what's coming and if (the pitcher) can put it in a place where you can't hit it, it's very effective.”

        Or, as Reitsma said, “When Danny Graves comes in, you just take a deep breath and realize everything's going to be OK.”

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