Cubs' offense continues to struggle in 4-0 loss to Mets

NEW YORK - Jose Reyes popped up from his first triple this season with a big grin on his face and gave several emphatic hand claps.

Mike Pelfrey's performance was pretty electric, too.

Reyes had a 2-run triple among his 4 hits Tuesday night after being held out of the starting lineup Monday, and Pelfrey pitched 3-hit ball for 7 innings to run his scoreless streak to 19, leading the New York Mets to a 4-0 victory over the Cubs.

"No matter how he plays he's a spark plug," Pelfrey said of Reyes. "You love looking behind you and seeing him smiling, having a good time."

The punchless Cubs have lost four in a row, scoring just 6 runs during the skid.

"Unfortunately, things are not going the way we expected them," starter Carlos Zambrano said. "But it's early and we have plenty of time to turn this around."

Looking recovered from the cramps in his calf and right index finger that hindered his previous start, Zambrano (1-2) kept to form, following a subpar outing (5 innings, 4 runs against Milwaukee) with a solid one. He struck out nine for the second time this season and gave up 6 hits, while covering plenty of ground stalking around the mound after his 3 walks.

The Mets took advantage of a two-out walk to Pelfrey in the second to score the game's first runs against a stingy Zambrano. Pinch hitter Fernando Tatis had a 2-run homer in the eighth inning for New York, which has won back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Mets top prospect Ike Davis went 0-for-3 with a walk in his second big-league game and made a nifty running catch behind first base in the fourth. His dad - former Yankees reliever Ron Davis - and stepmother were in the crowd after not having enough time to get to Citi Field from Arizona to see Ike's debut Monday.

Pelfrey (3-0) extended his scoreless streak to 19 innings, matching a career high established July 3-20, 2008. He allowed 3 hits, walked three in the first three innings and struck out six.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel said the often-moody Pelfrey is in command and is using his secondary pitches to great effect.

"He has great rhythm. There's a better presence. He's staying on top of the mound. He's ready before the hitter is ready," Manuel said. "I think he's that confident and that in control that he could say, 'I'm ready to go and I already know what the sequence is.' "

Pelfrey began a stretch of 6 splendid starts for New York's rotation Thursday with seven shutout innings against Colorado. He also picked up the team's first save of the season, pitching the 20th inning of a 2-1 win over St. Louis on Saturday.

Struggling with his control early, Pelfrey thought back to the relief appearance.

"It creeped into my head a little bit because I wasn't necessarily hitting my spots. I said, 'Man, maybe the other day had an effect,' but I felt great," he said.

Mets starters have allowed just 4 earned runs in the last 38 innings (0.95 ERA) and New York is 4-2 in that span. Pelfrey has three of the team's 6 wins - plus that save against the Cardinals - and a 0.86 ERA.

<p class="factboxheadblack">Cubs game tracker</p>

<p class="News"><b>Tough-luck loser:</b> Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano dropped to 1-2 but deserved better. The big right-hander allowed 2 runs in 6 innings with 9 strikeouts.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Holes in the bats:</b> For the offense, it's going from worse to worst. All the Cubs could muster? Three hits in 29 at-bats in Lou Piniella's revamped lineup against right-handers. Jeff Baker, Aramis Ramirez and Jeff Baker each struck out twice.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Oops:</b> Mike Fontenot was picked off second base by former teammate Henry Blanco.</p>