NEW YORK -- A reliever turned temporary starting pitcher for the Reds, Alfredo Simon is the caretaker of the fifth spot in the rotation until Mat Latos can return in a couple of weeks.Simon, who hadn't started in the regular season since 2011 with the Orioles, did more than just eat innings or pitch well enough. His fantastic seven-inning performance quieted the Mets and helped give the Reds a 2-1 victory on Sunday at Citi Field that salvaged one game of the three-game series.Out of the six games the Reds have played this season, five have been decided by one run. 
The start was Simon's longest outing since a career-high, eight-inning start for Baltimore against the Tigers on Sept. 23, 2011. He allowed one earned run and four hits with one walk, one hit batsman and six strikeouts while throwing 79 pitches, with 56 strikes.Simon has been a middle reliever for the Reds in 2012 and '13, before stretching out to start after Latos' left knee injury at the beginning of Spring Training.The Mets took a 1-0 lead on Simon in the bottom of the second inning. Once again, a left-handed shift backfired on the Reds when Ike Davis punched a double to the left side. Davis scored on Juan Lagares' single to left field.After Simon walked pitcher Jonathon Niese and gave up an Eric Young Jr. double with one out in the third, he settled into a nice groove and retired 11 of the next 12 and final 14 of 16. David Wright was hit by a 0-2 pitch with two outs in the sixth but Simon rebounded to strike out Curtis Granderson to end the inning.In his season debut after being activated from the disabled list, Niese allowed only three base runners over his first five innings. Cincinnati put together an extended rally in the sixth and took the lead.Following three straight singles by Simon, Chris Heisey and Brandon Phillips to load the bases, Joey Votto evened the game at 1 with a sacrifice fly to left field. Ryan Ludwick lined an RBI single to left field put Cincinnati ahead by a run.There were two outs when reliever Gonzalez Germen walked Todd Frazier to reload the bases, but Zack Cozart grounded out to second base. It extended his hitless streak to begin the season to 0-for-18.Simon was sent back for the eighth and warmed up until the Mets led off with left-handed pinch-hitter Lucas Duda. The Reds countered by summoning lefty reliever Manny Parra, who retired the side in order, then pitched the ninth for the first save of his professional career.Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
The start was Simon's longest outing since a career-high, eight-inning start for Baltimore against the Tigers on Sept. 23, 2011. He allowed one earned run and four hits with one walk, one hit batsman and six strikeouts while throwing 79 pitches, with 56 strikes.Simon has been a middle reliever for the Reds in 2012 and '13, before stretching out to start after Latos' left knee injury at the beginning of Spring Training.The Mets took a 1-0 lead on Simon in the bottom of the second inning. Once again, a left-handed shift backfired on the Reds when Ike Davis punched a double to the left side. Davis scored on Juan Lagares' single to left field.After Simon walked pitcher Jonathon Niese and gave up an Eric Young Jr. double with one out in the third, he settled into a nice groove and retired 11 of the next 12 and final 14 of 16. David Wright was hit by a 0-2 pitch with two outs in the sixth but Simon rebounded to strike out Curtis Granderson to end the inning.In his season debut after being activated from the disabled list, Niese allowed only three base runners over his first five innings. Cincinnati put together an extended rally in the sixth and took the lead.Following three straight singles by Simon, Chris Heisey and Brandon Phillips to load the bases, Joey Votto evened the game at 1 with a sacrifice fly to left field. Ryan Ludwick lined an RBI single to left field put Cincinnati ahead by a run.There were two outs when reliever Gonzalez Germen walked Todd Frazier to reload the bases, but Zack Cozart grounded out to second base. It extended his hitless streak to begin the season to 0-for-18.Simon was sent back for the eighth and warmed up until the Mets led off with left-handed pinch-hitter Lucas Duda. The Reds countered by summoning lefty reliever Manny Parra, who retired the side in order, then pitched the ninth for the first save of his professional career.Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
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