NEW YORK -- Alfredo Simon making his first start in more than two years. Marvin Jones Jr Jersey . Manny Parra stepping into the closers spot. Turns out, all the Cincinnati Reds needed for a win in New York was a little role reversal. Simon pitched seven impressive innings and began the go-ahead rally with his second career hit and Parra got the final six outs for his first career save, helping the Reds beat the Mets 2-1 Sunday to salvage a win in the three-game series. "At the end of the game I didnt even really know what to do," Parra said. "It was awesome." Joey Votto had a sacrifice fly and Ryan Ludwick a tiebreaking single off Jonathon Niese (0-1), who was making his first start of the season after a being slowed by shoulder and elbow injuries this spring. Simon (1-0) made 99 relief appearances for the Reds since his previous start, on Sept. 28, 2011, for Baltimore, but manager Bryan Price tapped the right-hander because Mat Latos is rehabbing from knee and elbow operations. Price said Simon is one of the most durable guys on the staff and had no problem letting him go deep into the game. He lifted Simon for the left-handed Parra to start the eighth after allowing just four hits and throwing 79 pitches. "I was thinking I was a starter before and this is a good opportunity for me, and I tried to show the best I can," Simon said after his 20th career start. "Everything worked." Parra made 74 starts for the Brewers before switching to relief work in 2010. He retired all six batters he faced, pitching the ninth instead of J.J. Hoover, who gave up Ike Davis walkoff grand slam Saturday. Parra struck out Davis to end the Reds second win of the season then stood atop the mound for a moment before pounding his glove and walking toward catcher Brayan Pena. "Cant ask for any more for Simon and Manny Parra," Price said. Niese was nearly as effective in his debut, allowing six hits and two runs in 5 2-3 innings in front of dozens of dogs at Citi Field on Bark in the Park day. "I feel good, felt like the ball was coming out of my hand pretty well, obviously didnt have any pain," Niese said. The Mets, though, wasted an opportunity to complete a sweep ahead of a nine-game road trip that begins in Atlanta on Tuesday. The Mets finished their first homestand of the season 2-4. Simon took the mound in a game for the first time since March 24 but there was little rust. After an easy first for Simon, Davis slashed a sharp one-out grounder the opposite way down the third base line, a spot vacated by the pull shift, for a double. Davis scored on Juan Lagares single for a 1-0 lead. An inning later, Simon walked Niese and Eric Young Jr. doubled to left-centre with one out. But Daniel Murphy and David Wright struck out, starting a run of 10 in a row that ended when Simon hit Wright with a pitch. Simon started the Reds go-ahead rally in the sixth by lacing a line drive over Murphys head. Chris Heisey, in the lineup for Billy Hamilton, who has a jammed left middle finger, and Brandon Phillips each singled to load the bases. Votto followed with a sacrifice fly and Ludwick the tiebreaking hit, a single to left for a 2-1 lead. "The way he kept his sinker down and the fact he got a base hit, it was very exciting," Pena said of Simon. "He got us going." Jay Bruce grounded to first base, ending Nieses day on his 90th pitch. Gonzalez Germen relieved and pitched around Todd Frazier to face Zack Cosart with the bases loaded. Cosart grounded out to extend his hitless start to 0 for 18. Cosart then flew out to right field in the ninth. NOTES: Simon singled last season against Pittsburgh. ... Phillips has a hit in all 29 games hes played against the Mets in New York. ... Reds CF Billy Hamilton did not start for second straight day because of a jammed left middle finger. He thinks hell be able to play Monday at St. Louis. ... Mets INF Wilmer Flores was sent to Triple-A Las Vegas to make room for Niese. ... Mets manager Terry Collins said hes sticking to the plan to have Lucas Duda serve as starting first baseman. ... Reds reliever Jonathan Broxton pitched the second of back-to-back outings for Double-A Pensacola. He gave up a hit in a scoreless inning Saturday night. ... Price said C Devin Mesoraco (strained oblique) is set to meet the team in St. Louis. Kenny Golladay Jersey .com) - Ryan Johansens creative moves and hometown appeal highlighted Team Folignos successful night at the NHL All- Star Skills Competition. Calvin Johnson Jersey . - Kevin Labanc and Joseph Blandisi were a potent combination for the Barrie Colts on Friday night. http://www.officialdetroitlionspro.com/Customized/ . - Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin has cleared league-mandated concussion protocol and has returned to practice as a full participant.TORONTO - There isnt much - in fact there may not be anything - that hasnt already been written or said about Mariano Rivera. About the man: a person of faith, humble, charitable and always willing to help others. About the pitch: the cut fastball which has baffled hitters, even though they know its coming, and broken more bats than anyone cares to count. About the player: Major League Baseballs all-time saves leader with 652, whos accomplished the feat with one team in an era of rampant player movement. The legendary Yankees closer is into the final weeks of his Hall of Fame career. Hes making his last stop in Toronto as a professional baseball player and, like anything else Rivera says, you believe him when he expresses his appreciation of visiting the city so many times over the years. “Its a great city to play in,” said Rivera. “We have had here tremendous games, tough games, big games but at the same time theyve all been wonderful. Its great to play here and play against the Toronto Blue Jays for all these years.” Rivera and his wife, Clara, have run The Mariano Rivera Foundation since its founding in July, 1998. The charity provides scholarships to further the educational needs of underprivileged students and sponsors churches and youth centres. It reaches across the United States and as far south as Riveras native Panama. “I always try to do it,” said Rivera. “Not only Panama but wherever we need to help and that is something that Im proud of. Not that I want to be recognized for that, but I do it because I was helped once and I always wanted to help others. That makes me feel good - knowing that I can touch one life and we can make that life better.” During his season-long farewell tour, Rivera has met with employees from each opposing ballclub. Twenty long-time Blue Jays employees had an opportunity to spend an hour with Rivera during New Yorks previous visit in late August. Rivera shook hands, answered questions and posed for photos. It was Riveras chance to thank the people who work hard behind the scenes. “I like how people appreciate the game and those are the ones you dont even see,” he said. “Theyre the ones you dont even know about, but at the same time they do something for the game, appreciate the game and appreciate what you do.” Rivera is also known to be giving of his time to his fellow ballplayers. Earlier this season, at Yankee Stadium, he held court with the Blue Jays large contingent of Spanish-speaking players. At the All-Star Game, in New York City, but hosted by the Mets, Jays relievers Steve Delabar and Brett Cecil approached him for baseball-related conversation. Sergio Santos did the same thing, two years ago, when Santos was with the White Sox. “I had a 30-minute conversation with him out in the outfield and he was so awesome and open to letting me ask him any question I had,” said Santoss. Detroit Lions Jerseys. “I had just become a closer so I had a bunch of questions and he sat there and spoke with me and answered every question I had. Hes just an amazing person and an amazing player.” Santos picked Riveras brain on thought process - How should he approach hitters on days he knows he doesnt have his best stuff? What about when hes feeling too good? If a runner gets aboard, a noted base stealer, how best do you divide your attention? “Just how adamant he was about going from pitch to pitch, not letting your mind wander to the next hitter or to what the situation is or letting any of that happen,” said Santos. “Just going, really simplifying it to the max, where its pitch by pitch. You get your pitch and then you try as best as you can to execute that pitch and once that pitch is over, whether it was executed or not, you forget it, its done with and you try to go on to the next pitch.” The cut fastball, Riveras go-to pitch, remains a mystery even to the pitcher himself. In the absence of a human to credit or, more likely because Rivera truly believes it, he looks skyward when asked to explain the success hes had against hitters who dont have to consider pitch selection. “Thats the Lord. Thats God, because no one taught it to me,” said Rivera. “I cant say to you that my pitching coach taught me that. I cannot say that. It happened for a reason and thats what I attribute it to, to the Lord.” “You know, still to this day, no hitters figured it out,” said Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes. “You know its only one pitch. Hes going to go with the hard cutter. Youre looking for the cutter and still youre not able to put a good swing on that baseball. Its unbelievable what hes been able to do.” “I mean, hes a little bit different now,” added Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. “Hes working both sides of the plate now. You know, really, in his prime it would be in to lefties and away to right-handers. It was that overpowering cutter. You knew it was coming, you could see it. You just cant do anything with it. As far as a left-hander, it starts in the middle of the plate and it keeps chasing you. You think you can get out in front of it and maybe catch it out front. You cant. With the right-handers, you see it there, it disappears and basically youre lucky if you get it off the end of the bat and it usually leads to a broken bat.” Rivera has thrived in New York. Like Derek Jeter, his long time teammate and fellow Yankees legend, his behaviour has been above reproach. He has created a Yankee Stadium tradition in which Metallicas metal anthem “Enter Sandman” is followed, three outs later, by Frank Sinatras classic “New York, New York.” Trusting Sinatras words, Riveras made it in New York, which means he could make it anywhere. With 652 saves, and likely more to come, hes backed up a legends words with his own legendary actions. 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