Rueter Wins 100th at Expense of Estes

The only negative for Kirk Rueter about winning his 100th career game was that he had to defeat his best friend to do it.

Rueter outpitched former teammate Shawn Estes to beat the Mets for the first time in 13 tries and the San Francisco Giants beat New York, 8-2, Wednesday night.

“I wasn’t looking forward to it,” Rueter said. “He was my best friend for the last five years. We’ve been through a lot together. It’s not easy to pitch against your best friend.”

Rueter (5-1) shut down the Mets with efficient ease, allowing only one runner to reach third base until Jay Payton’s RBI double in the eighth inning.

Rueter gave up two runs, five hits and one walk in 72/3 innings. Rueter, who was 0-5 in his last 12 starts against the Mets, has now defeated every National League team as he improved to 100-61 in his career.

“It was good to beat them for the first time because they pounded me so many times,” Rueter said.

J.T. Snow homered and drove in four runs and Barry Bonds was pitched around again as the Giants won their sixth in a row.

Bonds went 0 for 2 with two walks and was hit by a pitch. He has been walked 44 times this season and is on pace for 222, which would smash the record of 177 he set last season.

The Mets lost their fourth consecutive game. They’ve been outscored, 28-5, in that span.

Estes (1-4), traded to New York in December, got off to a shaky start against his former team. He threw five consecutive balls to open the game, prompting a visit from first baseman Mo Vaughn.

“I didn’t have a good rhythm,” Estes said. “I had no tempo. I didn’t have a feel for any of my pitches.”

After hitting Bonds on his right elbow with one out, Estes allowed an RBI single to Jeff Kent.

“He wasn’t sharp with his breaking ball early,” Giant Manager Dusty Baker said. “He might have been over-amped. He might have been trying too hard.”

Estes got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second when he retired Bonds on a routine fly to right field. Estes didn’t allow another hit until the fifth.

After getting in front of Bonds 0-2, Estes walked him with one out. After Kent hit into a forceout and stole second, Snow hit a drive over Payton’s head in center for an RBI double.