the five-game trip dropped Atlantas road reco

NEW YORK -- Darwin Barneys soft single fell into right field and Scott Feldman took off running, then rounded second and -- wait, was he trying for third? "I didnt know what I was doing, actually," the Cubs pitcher said. "I kind of just decided to go I guess." Like just about everything else Feldman did against the Mets on Saturday it worked out. Feldman allowed two hits in seven innings and the Cubs beat the Mets 5-2. Feldman hit a two-run single in the fourth, setting up his slow-motion scamper on the bases. He rounded second and headed for third, drawing a throw that seemed as if it had a chance to get him. Of course, it didnt. He slid in -- head first -- and beat the throw and David Wrights tag. "Dont want to make the third out at third, so I just tried to do everything I could to just sneak my hand in there," Feldman said. Said Wright: "I think I got him pretty good on the arm with my spike." Feldman (6-5) got it done on the mound, too. He struck out six and Starlin Castro hit a two-run double to left in the Cubs three-run eighth and Kevin Gregg got the last three outs for his ninth straight save. The Cubs stranded 10 runners in the first seven innings before breaking it open in the eighth. Scott Rice allowed a hit and a walk around a sacrifice, then Brandon Lyon came on and gave up a single to load the bases before walking Cody Ransom to force in a run. Castro then had his hit, which could have scored three runs if it hadnt bounced over the wall. "I think were just getting better swings in fastball counts, in hitters counts," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "Were taking advantage of situations now that we havent for a long piece of the season." Chicago beat the Mets for the second day in a row, after losing five of seven before getting to Queens. The Mets got a run back in the bottom of the eighth on Jordany Valdespins single off Carlos Villanueva, but Wright struck out with runners on second and third and fans streamed for the exits. "In the eighth inning, there was silence in the dugout and the feeling was like Here we go again," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "Losing is as big of a habit as winning." Jonathon Niese (3-6) left with two outs in the fifth inning and a man on second. He finished having allowed two runs, six hits and four walks with five strikeouts. He is 0-2 in his past four starts. "Niese battled without having his best stuff," Collins said. "He battled into the sixth inning and didnt want to come out and thats what I want. Guys who dont want to come out of the game." Before his double bounced over the wall, Castro had stranded five runners and struck out three times, including with the bases loaded to end the fourth. In the fourth inning, Wright followed Daniel Murphys leadoff double with a double of his own to cut the lead to 2-1, but he was stranded at second. The Mets hit three long fly balls in the sixth, but all were caught pretty much right at the wall. "It seemed like they were running down balls all day in the outfield for me," Feldman said. Feldman has bounced back nicely after a rough final season in Texas, where he spent the first eight seasons of his career. He only has one outing shorter than six innings this year after a rocky April, and has become a fixture in the Cubs rotation. Which explains why Sveum was cringing as he saw the big right-hander come around second base. "Why are you going to third? Youre a starting pitcher and you have a bad knee, thats what I was thinking as he was running to third," Sveum said. He pointed out later that it was for the best that Feldman, who has an old knee injury, slid head first. Feldman had something else on his mind later -- when was the last time he did a headfirst slide? "Ha! Man, probably college," Feldman said. "Still had pretty good form though, right?" NOTES: Mets GM Sandy Alderson told season ticket holders Saturday morning that "over the next six months or so, we will be in a position make some significant acquisitions, whether its through free agency or a trade. ... The Mets called up right-hander Carlos Torres from Las Vegas and optioned right-hander Greg Burke to the Triple-A team. To make room on the 40-man roster, the club designated right-hander Collin McHugh for assignment. Torres was 6-3 with a 3.89 ERA in 12 starts for Las Vegas. ... Ransom had two singles, two walks and reached on an error his first five times up before striking out in the ninth. ... The Cubs were 3 for 18 with runners in scoring position. ... Wright tied his career best by reaching in nine straight plate appearances, but his deep drive to left in the sixth inning was caught at the wall. ... Mets 2B Valdespin let Ransom move up a base in the first when he misfired while attempting to return the ball to Niese after Ransoms single. He was charged with an error. Stitched Nike MLB Jerseys . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable show by the confident Swedish challenger, who had the best of the early rounds and then hung on in the fourth and fifth. Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. http://www.cheapmlbjerseysusa.com/ . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. Discount Baseball Jerseys . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Cheap MLB Jerseys China . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. ATLANTA -- The Detroit Pistons hope to finish their turnaround road trip with a third straight win. The slumping Atlanta Hawks are glad to get back home for a game after four straight losses on their western swing.The Pistons, who started the season 1-8 away from home, have their record up to 10-10 heading into Fridays game in Atlanta. The Hawks, however, have fallen to 10-9 with their road woes after a 9-2 start.You never feel good when you have a tough road trip and youve lost a few in a row, Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said after Wednesdays 109-107 loss in Phoenix. But I think we are looking forward to going home. This is a pretty mature group and they will be ready on Friday.The Pistons have won four of their past five games after victories at Charlotte and Boston. They can move past .500 for the first time since early November with a victory over the Hawks.Its good, coming in with the problems weve had on the road, to play the way weve played the last two nights against two teams that are over .500 and have good personnel, coach Stan Van Gundy said after Wednesdays 121-114 victory against the Celtics.Andre Drummond had 20 points and 17 rebounds against Boston after being ejected early in Tuesdays 112-89 victory at Charlotte for a flagrant elbow.The Pistons shot 55.2 percent at Boston and out-rebounded the Celtics 52-33.The last two games, weve gotten going shooting the ball a little bit, which has been good, Van Gundy said. If you play as well ass we did offensively, youre going to win most nights.ddddddddddddhe Hawks were the first team to defeat the champion Cavaliers in Cleveland this season, but the four losses to end the five-game trip dropped Atlantas road record to 4-7 compared to 6-2 at home.The Hawks hope to have Paul Millsap back against the Pistons after he sat out the loss at Phoenix with a sore left hip.Millsap, averaging 16.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists, took a fall at Utah in the first of the four straight losses, but played in Los Angeles against the Lakers and at Golden State.Dennis Schroder scored 14 of his career-high 31 points in the fourth quarter and also had nine assists, but it wasnt enough to get the Hawks a win at Phoenix.The Hawks also got a good game off the bench from Tim Hardaway Jr., who had 21 points.I thought it was one of his better overall games, including defensively, Budenholzer said.The Pistons beat the Hawks in Atlanta to open last season, but then dropped the next three games between the teams, including both at home.The Pistons are 7-2 at home this season with games against Orlando and Chicago coming up, and should soon see the return of Reggie Jackson, who has missed all season after knee surgery.Were having fun, Drummond said after the win at Boston. The more we play like that the better the season is going to be. ' ' '