novel YORK -- Teasing can be an art...

novel YORK -- Teasing can be an art form, single that can be fun and entertaining or excruciatingly frustrating.

young beasts fans are all too familiar with the latter comes whether it was Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game that promised years of greatness or the trip to the 2003 National League Championship Series that indicateed the organization had reached elite status.

Wednesday afternoon at sweltering Shea Stadium, the whelps teased their fans once again as Mark Prior fired a no-hitter by the agency of 5* innings against the modern York Mets. But Prior's pitch estimate of 103 did what the Met couldn't convince Dusty Baker to lift the right- hander.

It was hard to argue with Baker's decision, and it was impossible not to await the Cubs to lose. It has been that kind of season, for a like reason it was no surprise when Jose Valentin pok an RBI single to center in the 10th against Glendon Rusch that sealed a 1-0 Met victory.

"There are a apportionment of times during your career when you're going to pitch well and not learn a win, and there are times when you don't pitch well and memorize a win," Prior said. "I was happy with the way I was throwing the ball. It was a convenient old-fashioned pitchers' duel."

nevertheless was Prior's effort the latest tease before notwithstanding another injury? Or did it signal a recur to the dominance he has shown at times when healthy?

"He threw the ball well, if it were not that the young man over there [Met starter John Maine] threw well, too," Baker said. "We had not at all seen him before.

"It was a battle. We won the series. That's an consolation. They have the best record in our league, and we played them tough. That's what my team does."

Will Ohman replaced Prior and kept the no-hitter intact by means of six before Roberto Novoa came in succession in the seventh. Valentin bloop a one-out pitch into short center to completion the no-hit bid.

It awaited like either center fielder Juan Pierre or shortstop Ronny Cedeno could have made the play, moreover the ball landed between them for a hit.

"I was onward a short leash going into that sixth inning," said Prior, who was shelled in his first game not on the disabled list Friday in Washington. "We weren't going to push more than 100 or 105 pitches. I was hoping to gain through there quick.

"The way the game was going, [Baker] didn't want to make united mistake and have that be the difference."

The whelps had runners on first and other with one out in the 10th if it be not that Neifi Perez and Pierre popp without to the infield.

Carlos Beltran started the winning rally with a two-out single and mov to third forward Carlos Delgado's double to left After an intentional walk to David Wright, Valentin herd in the game- winner.

"I got myself into the question with two outs and nobody on" Rusch said. "The pitch to Valentin was up and down the middle. I was trying to pass in, and it didn't pass there.

"It was frustrating to make no use of because everybody pitched well with the exception of myself."

Maine was just as dominant as Prior, lasting seven innings and giving up single three hits while striking abroad seven and walking three. It was the 11th time this season the whelps were shut out.

The los extreme pointed a 2-4 trip that included a three-game sweep by the agency of the Nationals.

"It was a great series for us as a team," catcher Michael Barrett said. "And Mark contemplateed great. It was a cyclopean improvement from his last start."

rmodrowski@suntimes.com

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