National League Game Summary - Cincinnati at New York

Flushing, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Alfredo Simon tossed seven solid innings and the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets, 2-1, to avoid a three-game sweep.

Simon (1-0) gave up one run on four hits while striking out six in his first start since September 2011 when he was with the Baltimore Orioles.

"I tried to go show them the best I can and tried to win the game. Everything worked really good today," Simon said.

Joey Votto and Ryan Ludwick had an RBI apiece for the Reds, who snapped a three-game skid.

Juan Lagares drove in the lone run for the Mets, who were trying to sweep a series from the Reds in New York for the first time since May 16-18, 2005.

New York starter Jonathon Niese (0-1) allowed two runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. The left-hander was originally scheduled to start on Opening Day for the Mets, but he was plagued with muscle weakness in his throwing shoulder and ultimately wound up on the disabled list with inflammation in his elbow.

"I feel good, felt like the ball was coming out of my hand pretty well, obviously didn't have any pain," Niese said.

The Mets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Ike Davis scored on Lagares' single to left. Davis, who hit a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning on Saturday, reached base on a double down the left-field line.

New York had a chance to tack on more runs in the third. With runners on second and third, Simon fanned Daniel Murphy and David Wright to keep it 1-0.

The Reds finally got to Niese in the sixth. Simon, Chris Heisey and Brandon Phillips hit three straight singles to load the bases with no outs. Votto's sacrifice fly and Ludwick's RBI single to left gave Cincinnati a 2-1 lead.

Manny Parra tossed two scoreless innings to pick up the first save of his professional career.