Church Drives in Game Winner

Mets Snap Loss String

MILWUAKEE -- Mike Pelfrey held the Brewers scoreless for 7 2/3 innings, and RYAN CHURCH drove in the only run, as the Mets beat the Brewers, 1-0, at Miller Park Wednesday afternoon to break a five-game losing streak and avoid a series sweep.

A pitchers' duel throughout the afternoon, Pelfrey and Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo held both offenses in check.

Neither team scored until Church lined an RBI single up the middle in the sixth inning to score Luis Castillo, who led off the inning with a double.

"He's nasty. He's got great stuff and he controls all of his pitches," Church said of Gallardo (8-5), who struck out a career-high 12 batters while taking the loss. "Today he was able to keep everybody guessing and he was throwing that curveball in the dirt."

Church, the Mets' cleanup hitter with stars Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado on the Disabled List, also reached base on a walk. His 1-for-3 day and his 7-for-12 pace over the past three games has lifted his batting average to .286-- the highest it has risen since May 4.