FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - The New York Mets again waited out Roger Clemens .

Reyes' single just past second base scored Victor Diaz with the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning as the New York Mets overcame a strong effort by Clemens to win their third straight game, a 1-0 triumph over the Houston Astros .

Diaz opened the inning by drawing a walk against Astros reliever Dan Wheeler (0-1). Chris Woodward sacrificed and Reyes followed by slapping a 3-1 pitch up the middle. Second baseman Chris Burke stopped the ball in shallow center field but could not get anything on his throw to the plate as Diaz scored easily.

"I was just hoping it would find a hole and it did," Reyes said. "When I hit it, I knew it had a chance."

Clemens was dominant in his first outing in New York since retiring from the Yankees after the 2003 season only to sign with the Astros. However, Kaz Ishii was just as good for the Mets, also throwing seven scoreless innings.

A seven-time Cy Young Award winner, Clemens allowed just two hits - singles to Carlos Beltran in the second and Kaz Matsui in the fourth - and struck out nine.

"I have the same approach whether I'm taking the mound at home or in New York. I have a pretty good routine I haven't deviated from," said Clemens, who was not bothered by the 45-degree temperatures. "I felt strong. I've been in enough of these games to know one run might do it."

The game was similar to Clemens' last start against the Mets on May 16 in Houston, when he also pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out 10. He was not involved in the decision and the Mets rallied on a homer by Mike Piazza to win in 13 innings. Wheeler, then with the Mets, was the winning pitcher that day.

Despite his solid performance, Clemens is winless in six starts at Shea Stadium, including two games in the 1986 World Series, and remains tied with Hall of Famer Steve Carlton for ninth place in career victories with 329.

Reyes made it worth the wait Wednesday with his winning hit and Astros manager Phil Garner never considered walking Reyes to set up a force.

"That's not Babe Ruth we're pitching to," Garner said. "He made good pitches and he got a hit."

Mike DeJean (1-0), who was 0-5 in 2004, gave up a hit in the top of the 11th. The Mets' bullpen kept Houston hitters quiet, allowing two hits and two walks over the final four innings. The relief corps had been shaky in the young season and failed to hold a lead in Monday's win over Houston.

"You want to start building confidence and today was a good day for the bullpen," said Braden Looper , who pitched two scoreless innings. "Today was a good old school baseball game, 1-0."

The Astros loaded the bases in the top of the 10th before Looper struck out rookie Luke Scott to end the inning.

Wheeler relieved former Met John Franco with one out in the 10th and struck out David Wright and Eric Valent before faltering in the 11th.

Ishii, acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 20, was outstanding in his first home start for his new team. The lefthander allowed just a pair of hits and walked three while striking out five.

"I was a little fired up (facing Clemens)," Ishii said through an interpreter. "But I wanted to stay consistent."

"It seems like we didn't seem two consecutive pitches the same speed from him all night," Garner said.

The Mets did not get a runner to third base in the first 10 innings.