level of confidence, supported by his skill set," 76ers coach Bret

NEW YORK -- Lucas Duda made the Mets look awfully smart, for one night at least. Duda hit a pair of two-run homers only hours after the team gave him the starting job at first base, and New York beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 Friday behind Jenrry Mejia for its first victory of the season. "Im just glad to play and contribute any way I can," said the soft-spoken Duda. "Its just one day." Replacement closer Jose Valverde struck out Jay Bruce with two on to end it, and the Mets avoided their first 0-4 start since opening with five consecutive losses in 2005. The 24-year-old Mejia (1-0), who beat out Daisuke Matsuzaka for the final spot in the rotation, struck out a career-high eight in six innings. Flashing a sharp breaking ball, he allowed one run and four hits in a steady rain and mist. "It was a good game for us tonight. We needed it bad," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "Were a better team than weve played." Bruce homered and drove in three runs for the Reds, who had won six straight at Citi Field. Mike Leake (0-1) gave up five hits and three walks in 6 2-3 innings. "It was the Lucas Duda-Jay Bruce show, and Duda won," Leake said. Mets left fielder Eric Young Jr. robbed Brandon Phillips of a home run, and backup catcher Anthony Recker threw out speedy pinch-runner Billy Hamilton trying to steal second for a big out in the eighth. New Yorks maligned bullpen, which compiled a 10.61 ERA during Washingtons three-game sweep to start the season, held on this time behind Valverde and fellow veteran Kyle Farnsworth, who got four outs. The excitable Valverde worked the ninth for his first save with the Mets. He took over as closer when Bobby Parnell went on the disabled list with a partially torn ligament in his right elbow after blowing a save on opening day. "I remember Valverde back in 2009 when he was throwing 99 mph," Bruce said. "He came right at me tonight. I just missed the one pitch and then he finished me off with the splitter. Pretty typical Valverde." Mejia struck out five of his first eight batters and overcame five walks, which matched a career high. His right ankle was wrapped after the game -- Phillips third-inning grounder hit him just above the outside part of his foot -- but he said he was fine. Mejia pounded his glove and pointed to left field when Young robbed Phillips of a first-inning homer. "I was just pumped up," Young said. "It ended up being the difference in the game because it was one run, so it was huge." Bruce put Cincinnati ahead with an RBI single in the third. Curtis Granderson beat the shift in the fourth when he grounded a leadoff double inside third base. Duda drove the next pitch into the Mets bullpen in right-centre for a 2-1 lead. "Sometimes its just about confidence," said Collins, who chose Duda at first over incumbent Ike Davis. "And maybe once in a while, when you feel good about yourself, you can start to do what everybody expects you to do." David Wright opened the sixth with an infield single and, after Bruce robbed Granderson of extra bases with running catch in deep right-centre, Duda ripped a line drive over the fence in right for his fifth career multihomer game. Duda is 6 for 8 against Leake with three extra-base hits. "Hes a guy that sees me well. It didnt help that the two pitches he hit werent quality pitches," Leake said. Bruce cut it to 4-3 in the seventh with a two-run drive off reliever John Lannan. NOTES: Cincinnati rested Hamilton (0 for 12) and SS Zack Cozart (0 for 11). "For no other reason than trying to make sure that our other guys stay sharp," manager Bryan Price said. CF Roger Bernadina drew three walks in his first start for Cincinnati, and Ramon Santiago became the 24th Reds shortstop to play next to Phillips. ... It was the first stolen base attempt of the season for Hamilton, who set a professional baseball record in 2012 with 155 steals combined at Class A Bakersfield and Double-A Pensacola. The only other catcher to throw him out in 15 major league tries was Juan Centeno of the Mets on Sept. 25 last year. ... Mejia threw a career-high 101 pitches. ... Mets RHP Dillon Gee starts Saturday against RHP Johnny Cueto. Yadier Molina Jersey . - The Denver Broncos kept rookie wide receiver Tavarres King from joining the Green Bay Packers by promoting him to their active roster Tuesday. Vince Coleman Jersey . These days, just about anyone can get a taste of the friendship that has blossomed between All-Star Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City Thunder teammate James Harden, most famous in the past two weeks or so for the elbow to the head he took from the Los Angeles Lakers Metta World Peace. http://www.authenticcardinalspro.com/car...rpenter-jersey/. - Doug Kalitta led Top Fuel qualifying Friday in the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway with a 3. Matt Carpenter Cardinals Jersey . The third-ranked Buckeyes were down eight points to Notre Dame with less than 2 minutes to play and their offence was nowhere to be found. Albert Pujols Cardinals Jersey . PAUL, Minn – The clock lingered for what seemed like an interminable two minutes and 51 seconds before Mark Fraser finally escaped to the bench during a wildly one-sided first period of an eventual loss to Boston.SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- For nearly two months, the Philadelphia 76ers couldnt win a road game. Lately, they cant lose. Thaddeus Young scored 28 points, Evan Turner had 24 and the 76ers defeated the Sacramento Kings 113-104 on Thursday night for their third straight victory. The suddenly surging 76ers took the lead early in the second quarter and never trailed again in winning their third consecutive road game after losing the previous 13. Prior to the winning streak, Philadelphias last road win was Nov. 1 against Washington. "We were talking and we dont know when was the last time weve done that," Spencer Hawes said. "Coming out west, its something thats very hard to do." With the 76ers coming off an impressive victory Wednesday night in Denver, it might have seemed more likely the rested Kings would have more energy. Yet it was the young 76ers displaying more effort, forcing the sloppy Kings into 23 turnovers that led to 27 Philadelphia points. The 76ers had seven players in double figures against Denver and five one night later. In a foul-plagued game, the bench contributed 41 points. "We are really making an effort on the defensive end," Young said. "And on offence were sharing the ball better than we have at any stretch all season." Young had a big game at both ends of the court. He made a career-high six steals, including five in the first half, to tie the arena record. He shot 9 of 16 and had seven rebounds, four assists and zero turnovers. "Thaddeus is playing with a high level of confidence, supported by his skill set," 76ers coach Brett Brown said. "Hes playing with both energy and explosiveness." Turner also enjoyed a strong overall game. He hit 11 of 22 shots and added 10 rebounds and six assists. Reserve guard Tony Wroten scored 21 points for Philadelphia, which ends its six-game road trip Saturday in Portland. Lavoy Allen and Hawes added 10 points apiece. DeMarcus Cousins scored 22 of his 33 points in the opening half for the Kings, who lost their sixth home game in a row to the 76ers. "I thought we had no energy tonight. I dont know if it had anything to do with we were playing a team with a losing record," Kings coach Michael Malone said. "They knew that the 76ers had just beaten Denver andd L.ddddddddddddA. on the road. And shoot, weve got a losing record. So I dont think that was the case. It was the matter of us not being able to find a rhythm or consistent energy tonight." Isaiah Thomas had 23 points and seven assists, and Rudy Gay scored 18 for the Kings. Jimmer Fredette had 12 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, and Derrick Williams scored 11. Cousins, who had 14 rebounds, picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter and sat out the remainder of the period. He was called for his fifth foul less than 3 minutes into the fourth. Fredette started the fourth quarter and scored 10 points in just under 4 minutes, rallying the Kings to 98-93. But the 76ers countered with nine straight points to increase their lead to 14 at the 3:56 mark, and Sacramento never threatened again. "Its a setback, but weve just got to keep moving forward," Fredette said. "We still have four home games on this homestand. We just need to come out to play and try to get the next one. Its disappointing. We have to play better, and we need more energy." Young had 11 points in the third quarter when Philadelphia added to its lead, taking a 92-77 advantage into the fourth. Thomas made a pair of 3-pointers and scored 14 for the Kings, who committed six turnovers in the third. After the Kings cut the lead to nine in the third period, the 76ers ran off nine straight points -- six by Young -- to build an 83-65 cushion. Wroten and Turner both had 13 points in the first half as the 76ers shot 50 per cent to open a 61-51 lead. Playing a physical game inside, Cousins shot 8 of 11 on free throws and scored 22 points in the opening half. NOTES: Thomas connected on a 3 early in the first quarter and has made one in 25 straight games. ... Hawes, who played his first three seasons with the Kings, was booed all game. Last season when the city was trying to keep the team in Sacramento, Hawes publicly stated he wanted the Seattle group to buy the Kings and move them. Hawes, who fouled out, grew up a Seattle SuperSonics fan. ... Kings reserve guard Marcus Thornton drew a delay of game in the first quarter. He apparently was tucking in his shirt a little too slowly for referee Danny Crawford. ... Cousins drew his NBA-leading 10th technical foul in the second quarter. ' ' '