CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Matt Harvey had very little run support in his first four major league starts, so he took care of business at the plate as well as on the mound. Justin Smith Jersey . Harvey drove in one more run than he allowed in the longest outing of his short major league career, and the New York Mets snapped the Cincinnati Reds five-game winning streak with an 8-4 victory on Thursday night. Harvey (2-3), who had lost three straight starts after winning in his major league debut, allowed one run and four hits in 7 2-3 innings. He struck out eight, walked one and hit a batter. Harvey also doubled in two runs in New Yorks three-run fourth inning. "I take pride in not being an easy out," said Harvey, who had two hits in his debut. Harveys command was much better against the Reds than in his previous start, and he showed the Mets what he can do when he is on his game. "I wanted to pound the strike zone, and I did that," Harvey said. "I had five walks in my last start and I didnt want to do that this time." "When he has command like that, hes going to be tough to hit," manager Terry Collins said. Ike Davis and Jason Bay hit solo home runs for the Mets, who capitalized on three errors and avoided a three-game sweep. New York hasnt been swept in Cincinnati since 2005. Harvey made that possible with his fine outing. "When he has command like that, hes going to be tough to hit," Mets manager Terry Collins said. Collins put Scott Hairston and Bay into the lineup that has struggled to score, and the moves paid off. The Mets totalled only six runs in Harveys first four starts combined. Davis, who is scheduled to get a rest in the upcoming series against Washington, hit his first home run since July 28. Bay has struggled to hit, and now is adapting to being a reserve after being an All-Star and a starter most of his career. "Im adjusting to a new role now and its given me time to work on some things," said Bay, who came in with a .150 batting average. "It felt good. I feel like this change has been on me for a while. It is up to me, but it doesnt go into my at-bat to at-bat preparation." Collins plans to use Bay against left-handers, but put him in the lineup against the right-handed Homer Bailey to help spark Bay and the sputtering offence. "I was happy to see that from Bay," Collins said. "Hes a good player. Everybodys pulling for him. If we can get him jump started, he can help." The Reds, who entered with a season-high, seven-game lead in the NL Central, had it cut to six over Pittsburgh. Jon Rauch came on in relief of struggling Mets closer Frank Francisco and struck out pinch-hitter Wilson Valdez to end the game for his third save. Francisco allowed three runs and four hits, and got only two outs in his second straight rough outing. "Francisco has struggled with locating his fastball since he came back from the oblique injury. We just need to get him some work," Collins said. The Mets took the lead in the fourth inning, scoring three times after managing a total of one run in their opening two losses to the Reds in the series. Davis snapped the scoreless tie with his team-leading 21st homer. The leadoff shot, which travelled 421 feet into the right-centre field seats, was hit off Bailey. Two outs later, Bay hit a grounder up the middle that second baseman Brandon Phillips backhanded and threw over Todd Fraziers head at first base for an infield hit and a throwing error. Kelly Shoppach, making his first appearance with the Mets, was intentionally walked to get to Harvey. The big right-hander then hit a two-run double to deep left-centre field that produced his first career RBIs. "Its a tough adjustment to walk a guy and then try to throw one down and away," Bailey said. "I left it over the middle. I might as well have put it on a tee for him." The error was Phillips first in a career-high 84 games, dating to May 6 at Pittsburgh. Bay increased New Yorks lead to 4-0 with his sixth homer of the year and first since July 18 at Washington, with one out in the sixth inning. Shoppach reached on Scott Rolens error, and after Harveys sacrifice, Ruben Tejada doubled off the left field wall and scored on Mike Baxters single. Bailey (10-8) allowed eight hits and six runs, four earned, with three walks, a wild pitch and six strikeouts in 5 1-3 innings. The Reds broke up Harveys shutout with doubles by Phillips and Jay Bruce in the seventh. Davis added an RBI double in the ninth, and the Mets tacked on another run on Zack Cozarts error. "Over a 162-game season, youre going to have games like this, but the way weve been playing lately, its odd," Cozart said. Ryan Ludwick led off the ninth with his 23rd homer of the season on the first pitch from Francisco. It extended Ludwicks hitting streak to a season-high eight games. Miguel Cairo drove in another run with a single, and Cozart knocked in one with a double. Harvey struck out eight, giving him 34 in his first five starts -- the second-highest total, behind Dwight Gooden in Mets history. Gooden struck out 36 in his first five starts. Notes: Mets 3B David Wright needs one home run to become the third player to hit 200 with New York. Wright hasnt homered since July 27 at Arizona. ... The Mets road trip continues with three at Washington. LHP Johan Santana is scheduled to make his second start since coming off on Friday. ... The Reds will open a four-game, three-day home series against the Chicago Cubs, including a split doubleheader on Saturday to make up a rain postponement on May 1. RHP Johnny Cueto said he expects to start the first game of the doubleheader. Ronnie Lott Jersey . -- Right-hander Felipe Paulino and the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a $1. Deion Sanders 49ers Jersey . -- Clayton Richard did a nice job using his off-speed pitches to keep the Oakland hitters guessing. http://www.shop4... . Days after signing with the Knicks, Kidd crashed his SUV into a telephone pole in the Hamptons on Sunday, Southampton Town police said. [url=http://www.shop49ersgear.us/anthony-dixon-49ers-jersey/]Anthony Dixon Jersey . Greg Mohns, who earned Grey Cup rings in separate stints as an executive with the Toronto Argonauts, died Wednesday of throat cancer. Mario Manningham Jersey . The game, played in withering 30C heat, saw Canada go ahead 1-0 at the 40-minute mark on a penalty kick by captain Russell Teibert of Niagara Falls, Ont.The Carolina Hurricanes have signed free agent forward Alexander Semin to a one-year, $7 million contract. Semin scored 21 goals and 33 assists in 77 games with the Capitals in 2011-12. He had signed a one-year deal with the Capitals prior to last season worth $6.7 million. "We have done a lot of research about Alexander, and discussions about his fit with our team have included people at many different levels of our organization, including players, coaches and staff," said Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford in a team statement. "Whats been clear throughout this process was his commitment to wanting to play in the NHL, and compete against the worlds best players. "Alexanders eelite skill level and ability to score from the wing fill an important need on the ice, and we hope that a fresh start in Carolina will serve both Alexander and our team well. Colin Kaepernick Elite Jersey. " His 2011-12 goal total was the lowest hes registered in six seasons since the 2004-05 NHL lockout, despite matching a career-high in games played. Originally selected 13th overall by the Washington Capitals at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Semin has scored 197 goals and 211 assists in 469 career games. Semin has also represented Russia at six IIHF World Championships, winning two gold medals (2008 and 2012), one silver and one bronze. He also played for his country at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. ' ' '