Skidding Mets drop 5th straight game

NEW YORK — Alex Cobb delivered his best performance since signing a rich contract with Baltimore late in spring training, helping the Orioles break a sevengame losing streak by beating the New York Mets 2-1 Tuesday night.

The Orioles ended their longest skid of the season and sent the slumping Mets to their fifth loss in a row. New York has dropped seven straight at Citi Field.

Cobb (2-7) gave up one run and two hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking one.

The right-hander began the game with a 6.80 ERA, hardly what the Orioles envisioned when they gave the former Tampa Bay pitcher a $57 million, four-year deal.

Cobb held the Mets hitless until Jay Bruce led off the fifth with a single. The Mets later ended a 21-inning scoreless string on pinch-hitter Jose Bautista’s sacrifice fly.

Orioles reliever Richard Bleier got Asdrubal Cabrera to ground into a double play with two on to end the eighth. Brad Brach worked the ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances, completing the combined three-hitter.

The Mets have managed only seven runs in their last five games. Held to three hits in consecutive games, New York has lost 12 of 15 overall.

The Orioles, with the worst record in the majors at 18-41, scored two quick runs against Jason Vargas (2-4). Trey Mancini, Adam Jones and Manny Machado opened the game with singles for a 1-0 lead, and Danny Valencia added a sacrifice fly.

Baltimore catcher Austin Wynns made his majorleague debut and singled in his first at-bat.

AND HE’S OFF ...

Bob Baffert, trainer of Triple Crown hopeful Justify, threw out the first ball. Wearing a Mets jersey, he made a high toss home. The draw for post positions for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes was held hours earlier at Citi Field.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: RHP Noah Syndergaard (strained ligament, right index finger) threw a simulated game from the mound. If he’s OK, he could start Sunday night at home against the Yankees. Yoenis Cespedes (hip flexor) was one of the hitters Syndergaard faced . ... 3B Todd Frazier (hamstring) and RHP Anthony Swarzak (oblique) were activated from the disabled list. Frazier, who’d been out since May 8, batted cleanup and went 0 for 4. Swarzak worked a hitless ninth in his first game since March 31.