Is New York's most eligible bachelor finally ready to settle down? Derek Jeter spills the beans in a candid Q&A with Steve Serby.

Carlos Beltran and Ryan Church hit back-to-back homers in the fifth inning to support Oliver Perez and lead the New York Mets to an 8-3 victory Sunday over the bumbling Cincinnati Reds. The Reds batted out of order in the ninth after an earlier double switch, with backup catcher David Ross coming to the plate in the No. 8 spot instead of Corey Patterson. Ross flied out to right.

While his teammates applied some muscle for the third time in four games, Oliver Perez won for the first time in four starts in the 8-3 victory against the last-place Reds, the Mets' eighth victory in their past 11 games at Shea Stadium.

Strained left quad stops Castillo

Obscured by the tarnish that formed on the second game of the Mets' doubleheader on Saturday was a seemingly significant phase of the continuing makeover of Mike Pelfrey.

4:20 p.m.: Just when it looked like this game would finish without incident, things are bordering on the absurd now in the top of the ninth. Feliciano was in for the Mets to face the 8-9-1 hitters in the Reds lineup, but catcher David Ross, who already was in the game in the 9-spot, led off the inning and flied to right. Corey Patterson, who was inserted into the 8-hole in a double switch the previous inning, then came to the plate, and Willie Randolph jumped out of the dugout. Patterson quickly was ruled out because Ross batted out of order.

By rule, Ross then batted in his spot and promptly singled to center. So Ross batted twice, but Patterson gets credit for making an out on his batting average and Ross gets the hit.

Several umpire huddles ensued – with Reds manager Dusty Baker involved in most of them – but it’s finally all straightened out and we resumed top of the order, one out, runner on first.

Feliciano retires leadoff man Ryan Freel and Joey Votto both bounced to Easley at second for the final two outs and an 8-3 Mets final.

Be back in a few.

3:15 p.m.: Not sure what Wagner will say about this one. As is his norm, Perez looked unhittable (and practically was) over five innings of one-hit ball (with the one hit by the greatest hitter I’ve ever seen, Mets castoff Jeff Keppinger). But then Ollie got knocked around in the sixth for three runs, including a triple by Keppinger (7-for-7 so far in the last two games) and a run-scoring WP, before Pagan pinch-hit for Perez in the sixth (Angel’s first appearance since the sidewall collision in LA).

Perez’s final line (102 pitches): 6 IP, 3 hits, 3 ER, 4 BB, 8 K.

• Also of note, Luis Castillo left the game after five innings with what the Mets called “left quad discomfort,” but I suppose it just could’ve been called “he’s-always-hurt-disease.”

Anyway, it’s 7-3 Mets (Bottom 6), as Beltran picked up where he left off Saturday, with a run-scoring double in the first and a two-run bomb in the fifth off Johnny Cueto. Church also went deep in that inning for the Mets’ second set of back-to-backs in as many days.

1:10 p.m.: Scratch the nugget from my earlier post, as Reyes and Castillo indeed are rocking the pink-trimmed spikes to start the game, paltry fine be damned. Good for them.

12:30 p.m.: That chronic whiner, McCarron, will be happy to know that I followed his advice and played the lottery two days in a row to let it ride and cash in on my good fortune of covering Friday’s rainout and then bypassing Saturday’s fun-filled day-nighter. Alas, MegaMillions and Lotto weren’t cooperative enough for me to send in my resignation on the spot, so it’s Botte back for a special Mother’s Day guest-blog from pink-infested Shea.

(Besides, I don’t know what McCarron is complaining about. Kristie Ackert was here for Friday’s rainout, 14 hours of Saturday sidebar coverage and she made it back to Flushing for a third round this afternoon. The Gung-Ho Girl, what a trooper).

Anyway, (Down With) OPP is on the hill today against Reds righty Johnny Cueto. We’ll see which Ollie will show.

Standard starting lineup for the Mets – with Carlos Delgado hitting seventh apparently now the norm. Randolph also said Angel Pagan is closer to “helping out” defensively or as a pinch-runner, so it appears as if he’ll avoid the DL.

The Matt Wise Watch also continues, as the reliever still has not been activated, although Willie indicated Wise looked strong in his bullpen session Friday.

And no starter has been named for Wednesday against Washington due to Saturday’s double-dip, although Willie acknowledged it isn’t likely to be Jorge Sosa. Triple-A retread Claudio Vargas, who tossed seven scoreless innings for the Zephs in his last start Thursday, figures to be the leading candidate for spot duty, although Brian Stokes also is on turn after tossing 8 1/3 strong innings Friday.

Still another possibility, as A-Mac reported in today’s paper, is lefty Adam Bostick, who was pulled from his start for N.O. after three innings Saturday.

Still, whither Lima Time? Ah, memories.

***

Once again, most of the players on both teams will be swinging pink bats and donning pink wristbands today as part of MLB breast-cancer awareness program. Jose Reyes and Luis Castillo also received new spikes – black with pink trim and pink shoelaces – but Reyes said they are not wearing them because they were told MLB would fine them for non-uniform uniforms. Maybe they should get George Mitchell to investigate this heinous violation.

***

And finally, a very Happy Mom’s Day to LB down in Myrtle Beach. Here’s hoping Dad leaves you alone all day.

By Peter Botte

Is New York's most eligible bachelor finally ready to settle down? Derek Jeter spills the beans in a candid Q & A with Steve Serby.

The Mets have played well against the lesser teams in the NL, and hope to finish off a series victory as Oliver Perez tries to shake off his recent struggles against the last-place Reds on Sunday.

Mike Pelfrey gave up two runs in six innings, but the Mets were limited to just one run in a 7-1 loss to the Reds, resulting in a doubleheader split Saturday.

The New York Mets' lineup has had one outstanding contest and one dud so far in their three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds. Mets starter Oliver Perez has certainly had his own ups and downs. Perez, in desperate need of some run support, looks to end a personal three-game losing streak as the Mets play the decisive game of their series with the Reds at Shea Stadium. New York (18-16) entered this series following a 12-run outburst in a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.

Throughout his horrendous start to the season, Bronson Arroyo insisted he was fine. He proved it on Saturday. Arroyo pitched eight dominant innings to win a matchup of struggling pitchers and Jeff Keppinger had a career-high five hits, lifting the Cincinnati Reds over the New York Mets 7-1 for a split of their day-night doubleheader. "The tides got to turn at some point," Arroyo said after retiring 16 of his last 17 batters.

Ron Hodges was a catcher for the Mets, but his son, Casey, is making a name for himself as a pitcher and utilityman for Mount Olive College as the Draft approaches.

The refrain was the same from almost everyone in the Mets' clubhouse: Offensively, we're coming together. And how. Carlos Beltran hit a bases-loaded triple and drove in five runs, and Carlos Delgado and Brian Schneider hit New York's first back-to-back homers of the season to back Johan Santana's first home win for the Mets, a 12-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a day-night doubleheader Saturday.

The Mets gave Johan Santana more than enough cushion in the matinee on Saturday, as Carlos Beltran's five RBIs led the way in a 12-6 victory over the Reds.

Carlos Beltran hit a bases-loaded triple and drove in five runs to back Johan Santana's first home win for the Mets, and New York beat the Cincinnati Reds 12-6 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader Saturday. Carlos Delgado and Brian Schneider hit New York's first back-to-back homers of the season, helping the Mets score 12 runs for the second consecutive game. David Wright broke out of a 1-for-13 slump with two hits and three runs.

Justin Upton may have the biggest upside of any D-backs player. He talked with Ken Rosenthal about tapping into that limitless potential.

Justin Upton may have the biggest upside of any D-backs player. He talked with Ken Rosenthal about tapping into that limitless potential.

11:51 p.m.: After all the optimism following Game 1, the Met clubhouse was pretty dismal after the nightcap, thanks to their awful final two innings and a squandered chance at a sweep.

“We split,” Willie Randolph said. “It’s nice to get one of them. It was a long day. At the end of it, you want to get some rest. You usually don’t see too many sweeps of doubleheaders. We hoped to have it.”

For that to happen, the Mets would’ve had to hit more. Keppinger by himself had more hits than them, for crying out loud! Strange how a team can be crushing the ball in the afternoon and then hapless at night. Part of the credit goes to Bronson Arroyo, a Met-killer, but I think the Mets were being overly aggressive in the second game, too.

The bullpen, in the words of Billy Wagner “sucked” in the nightcap – Wagner gave up three unearned runs in the ninth and couldn’t even finish the inning. Duaner Sanchez, brought in when the score was 2-1, allowed two runs in the eighth. Ugh.

Randolph was eager to talk about the one clear Game 2 positive – Mike Pelfrey. Randolph called it Pelfrey’s best outing of the season and was delighted with the confident, aggressive way he pitched. Too bad the offense couldn’t provide more and get the kid a ‘W.’ I guess Pelfrey can ask Santana what that feeling is like – Santana’s had a few good performances wrecked by the Met bullpen and/or offense this season, too.

That’s it for me. I turn the reins over to Botte, once again, I believe, for tomorrow’s action. Here’s hoping that he gets stuck with the next day-nighter, either here or across town….

9:15 p.m.: Pelfrey pitched pretty well – six innings, two runs, eight hits. He got the first two outs in the fourth inning and then gave up two hits and a walk to load the bases but retired his mound opponent, Arroyo, on an easy grounder. He gave up an RBI double to Scott Hatteberg in the sixth, which snapped a 1-1 tie.

Aaron Heilman has relieved him. The few fans who actually showed up for this tilt (the makeup of Friday’s rainout) booed him.

By the way – Jeff Keppinger, who couldn’t play for the Mets awhile ago, is 3-for-3 so far in the nightcap.

7:40 p.m.: Here are the lineups for the second game:

Reds: Freel, cf; Hairston, Jr., 2b; Griffey, Jr., rf; Encarnacion, 3b; Dunn, lf; Keppinger, ss; Hatteberg, 1b; Bako, c; Arroyo, p

Mets: Reyes, ss; Chavez, rf; Wright, 3b; Beltran, cf; Delgado, 1b; Easley, 2b; Anderson, lf; Castro, c; Pelfrey, p.

Only Reyes, Wright, Beltran and Delgado started both games for the Mets.

Pelfrey, obviously, has got to get back to the stuff that helped his start 2-0. He’s got an 8.22 ERA in his last three starts and is 0-2 over that span with a no-decision. Randolph said hours ago – like, 11 a.m. – that it might make sense to pair Pelfrey with the veteran starter Brian Schneider who would be take charge and guide Pelfrey. But, Randolph also said, “there’s something to be said for having your best catcher in sync with your best pitcher.”

In any even, Pelfrey has to “step up and bounce back, just like Oliver (Perez) needs to bounce back tomorrow, have his best game and keep us in the ballgame.”

6:20 p.m.: The suddenly-potent Met offense won this one, folks, by a score of 12-6. The Carloses seemed to get well - Beltran had five RBI, Delgado was 3-for-4 with a double and a homer. Whaddaya think - an aberration or the start of something? In the post-game, Randolph sounded like he thought it could be the start of something good.

“A lot of guys have been up and down. Hopefully, collectively, we’re going to click,” Randolph said.

As for Santana, we found out afterward that he was suffering with allergies - runny nose, itchy eyes, the works. More importantly, he also admitted he didn’t have his best stuff. He described his changeup as “alright” and added that he threw a few sliders that were “OK.” Still, he only gave up three runs, so, not too bad. Although I will say this - Friday’s rain did wonders for my allergies. How come not his? OK, I kid.

If you’re interested in this sort of thing, Game 1 ended at 4:23 p.m. and the second game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. That’s three hours between games. Ryan Church had his eyes closed on a clubhouse couch while the press interviewed some of the other players. As Randolph said before Game 1, “Some of the guys will take naps, some guys will get on their computers. It’s an adjustment, but we have to make do and do what we have to do. Stay focused, mentally prepare yourself.”

Willie, what about the writers? Actually, I am doing OK. I’ve coffee’d up (several times), I’m going to Mama’s of Corona for a sandwich for dinner (black and white cookie chaser) and I’m going to power through.

3:34 p.m.: Mets just blew this one open (I think). Carlos Beltran just tripled with the bases loaded, giving him five RBI for the day. It came after Lincoln walked David Wright with the bases loaded.

Beltran’s ball went down the first-base line and hit the part of the stands that jut near the foul line in right. Griffey, Jr. is not the quickest of right fielders anymore, so Mets just kept circling the bases. Griffey looked home first, but then threw toward third. Beltran made it there standing up and took care not to overrun the bag.

It’s 10-3 Mets now.

Here’s a Santana note: the 10 hits he’s allowed match his career-high, which has happened five times, the last time was Aug. 29 last year for the Twins against Cleveland. For comparison purposes, Kei Igawa allowed 11 hits in three innings for the Yankees last night in Detroit.

Wait, I think my cell phone is ringing - that’s Santana’s agents calling to yell at me for using Igawa and their client in the same blog item. Well, I can understand their point.

3:18 p.m.: Santana is done for the day because here’s Damion Easley pinch-hitting for him with two men on and no outs in the sixth. Santana’s line: six innings, three runs, 10 hits, one walk, five strikeouts. He threw 116 pitches, 77 strikes.

Oh, good, we’re in the bullpen matchup mode. Just what a scribe is looking for in a long day of baseball. The Reds used lefty Bill Bray for the first two batters - to no success, he allowed consecutive hits, including a double by Delgado - and now are using righty Mike Lincoln for Easley.

3:12 p.m.: Santana just struck out Corey Patterson with a changeup to end a tense top of the sixth. Santana, who has been just OK, gave up two runs and four hits in the inning and likely is coming out of the game because he’s thrown 114 pitches. Mets are ahead, 6-3, entering the bottom of the sixth.

1:30 p.m.: U.S. Marshals apparently are hunting for Botte this afternoon - something about a charge of “Excessive Blog Gloating” after getting the gift of a rainout/day off combo Friday-Saturday. Here’s hoping they throw the book at the bum.

Santana allowed three hits in the first inning, but nailed Corey Patterson trying to steal - he threw to first on a pickoff attempt as Patterson broke for second, score it 1-3-6 - and then got Joey Votto to fly to right after Griffey’s single and a double to left by Brandon Phillips.

1:25 p.m.: Some days, dear readers, you wake up and it’s all wine, ice cream and roses - like for Peter Botte today. He got out of last night’s assignment early enough to watch his bootleg copy of the new season of “American Gladiators” in its entirety and is not assigned to today’s day-night doubleheader (aka The Scourge of the Sportswriter). Pete, I suggest you use part of today to buy lottery tickets. Ride the streak!

Meanwhile, I, Anthony McCarron, will try to take up A-Rube’s mantel of multiple blog items after winning a lottery of a very different kind thanks to Friday’s rainout. While I won’t summarize past matchups with the Reds for you, I will attempt to bring you into the Met clubhouse and out to the ballpark with a selection of whimsy, whining and way-out anecdotes.

Here are the lineups. Note where Carlos Delgado is hitting:

Reds

Patterson, cf Freel, lf Griffey, rf Phillips, 2b Votto, 1b Encarnacion, 3b Keppinger, ss Ross, c Belisle, p

Mets

Reyes, ss Castillo, 2b Wright, 3b Beltran, cf Church, rf Alou, lf Delgado, 1b Schneider, c Santana, p

Willlie Randolph said Delgado was hitting seventh because he wanted to break up the lefties in the lineup and not be vulnerable to Cincy lefties Bill Bray or Jeremy Affeldt coming in and getting to face three left-handed hitters in a row. Certainly a reasonable explanation, but would anyone be surprised if Delgado sank this far down in the lineup permanently as the season goes on? He’s not the same player he once was.

Randolph had some nice things to say about Ken Griffey, Jr. in the pre-game, including that he believes Griffey would be the all-time homer king had he avoided all the injuries that have plagued his career. That’s a popular opinion - I buy it, certainly - and it would have been interesting to see what a healthy Griff could’ve done. 800 homers, you think? I’d bet a healthy Alex Rodriguez hits 800, at least.

The Shea crowd is obviously not as enamored of Junior as Randolph - a lukewarm hand at best, including some boos, when he batted in the first. By the way, he singled past a slow-moving Delgado.

More from the pre-game: Randolph said he chose to have Santana pitch the opener (Mike Pelfrey’s start is the one that got rained out Friday night) because he wants his ace going in the first game. “I like to get my best going and get the first one so we can hopefully get two,” Randolph said. “You can’t win two unless you win the first, so I like my best starter to go first.”

Apropos of nothing, if you’re Pelfrey and you’re allowed to treat this like a night game and arrive this afternoon, do you watch the opener on television at home? Might have to ask that after the nightcap.

Santana warmed up to the Santana/Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20) song “Smooth.” That’s Carlos Santana, not Johan or even Ervin. Or, Met historians, Rafael.

Clothes designer Tommy Hilfiger threw out the first pitch, wearing a Met cap and an orange shirt only he could pull off. He’s here as part of Autism Awareness Day, according to the announcement.

- by Anthony McCarron

MEDICAL WATCH: C Ramon Castro (strained right hamstring) opened the season on the 15-day disabled list. He was activated on May 9 and designated for assignment. LF Angel Pagan (tightness in left shoulder) left the May 7 game. He is day-to-day. RHP Pedro Martinez (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list April 2. He was throwing off a mound in early May. He is not expected back until sometime in June.

--RHP Pedro Martinez threw a 60-pitch bullpen session Friday, which included facing hitters. Martinez is on the disabled list rehabbing a strained left hamstring. "We're very encouraged by his progress," GM Omar Minaya said. --C Ramon Castro was reinstated from the disabled list (strained right hamstring). To make room on the roster, C Raul Casanova was designated for assignment. "I played well," Casanova said. "It's a little tough.