NEW YORK -- Alfredo Simon making his first start in more than two years. Pittsburgh Penguins Pro Shop . 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. Fake Penguins Jerseys .C. -- Ryan Sproul scored the winner late in double overtime to lift the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 2-1 win over the Abbotsford Heat on Friday in Game 1 of their American Hockey League playoff series. Pittsburgh Penguins Store . New York then missed its next six shots and scored only two points the rest of the night. The Los Angeles Clippers defence and the Knicks general ineptitude both played a role in the unsurprising finish to a meeting of two teams headed in opposite directions. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/ . -- Oakland Athletics third baseman Scott Sizemore has undergone surgery on his left knee to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.TORONTO - Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment has cleared up the uncertainty surrounding president and chief executive officer Tim Leiwekes long-term future with the company. He will stay in the position until June 30, 2015 or until a new CEO is found, MLSE said Thursday in a statement. "Under Tims leadership, MLSE has made a number of key moves to strengthen our organization on the path to championship success," said MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum. "We look forward to working closely with Tim to build on this foundation and further accelerate our momentum as we seek a new leader for MLSE." The Toronto-based sports organization counts the NHLs Maple Leafs, NBAs Raptors, AHLs Marlies and Toronto FC of Major League Soccer among its properties. The search for Leiwekes successor is underway, MLSE said in the statement. Leiwekes future with MLSE has been a hot topic this week after a report indicated he would "soon" be leaving the company. He denied the report, called the rumours a distraction and said he was focused on the teams current and upcoming seasons. However, Leiweke, who joined MLSE in April 2013 and is reportedly under contract for five years, did not reveal his long-term plans. He also did not say how long he wanted to stay in the position. That became much more clear Thursday morning when MLSE issued a five-paragraph statement. Once he leaves, the longtime sports executive plans to pursue his goal of owning and operating his own business. "Its an honour to lead MLSE, a world-class organization in a city and a country so passionate about sports," he said. "But with new opportunities on the horizon, its time for me to begin the transition from sports and entertainment executive to entrepreneur. "Right now, my total focus is here at MLSE and I look forward to working with the Board and MLSE team to continue strengthening our franchises while ensuring a smooth transition to a new leader." Until his successor is found, the company will continue to operate with its current executive management structure. The statement did not say whetther Leiwekes successor would also assume his title of president. Pittsburgh Penguins Shirts. A decision on that would be made at a later date, an MLSE spokesperson said in an email. "Ive always told everyone Im not here forever," Leiweke said Wednesday during a brief media availability at the Air Canada Centre galleria. "My job is to change the culture and get it headed in the right direction." Leiweke has helped guide dramatic change at all levels during his 16 months at the helm. In May of last year, he lured NBA executive of the year Masai Ujiri away from the Denver Nuggets. Two months later, he restructured the senior management team at MLSE. Leiweke then turned his attention to Toronto FC, firing president and general manager Kevin Payne and later hiring Tim Bezbatchenko as GM. On the NBA front, the Raptors announced plans for a two-year rebranding effort last fall, named local rapper Drake as their global ambassador and Toronto landed the 2016 NBA all-star game. Toronto FC underwent a roster makeover over the winter, landing Jermain Defoe, Gilberto and Michael Bradley while bringing back former league MVP Dwayne De Rosario. In April, the Maple Leafs brought in former star player Brendan Shanahan to oversee all team operations as club president and alternate governor. The teams have had mixed results under Leiwekes watch. The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs last spring but the Raptors claimed the Atlantic Division title and returned to the post-season for the first time in six years. Toronto FC, meanwhile, is in third place in the Eastern Conference standings and could make the playoffs. Leiwekes pro sports business career has spanned over 30 years. He previously worked as president and CEO of AEG, which owns the NHLs Los Angeles Kings, NBAs Lakers and the Galaxy of MLS. He joined the Kings as president in 1996 and became president and CEO of AEG Worldwide in 2001. Leiweke also previously served as president and CEO of U.S. Skiing and has worked for the NBAs Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves as well as the St. Louis Steamers of the Major Indoor Soccer League. ' ' '