Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Oliver Perez tossed seven strong innings, as the New York Mets downed the Texas Rangers, 7-1, in the opener of a three-game interleague affair at Shea Stadium.

Perez (5-4), who was winless in his last four starts, limited the Rangers to one run on three hits and struck out a season-high-tying eight batters against three walks. The lefty also knocked in two runs.

Endy Chavez went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for New York, which won for just the second in time in its last eight games. The Mets' lackluster play has put manager Willie Randolph on the hot seat.

Jose Reyes had two hits and scored twice, while David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Marlon Anderson each drove in a run.

"Oliver set the tone," Randolph said. "He had a good curveball tonight. He did his job. We scored some runs enough to where we could breath a little bit. It was a nice win. We've got to keep it going."

Scott Feldman (1-3) went five-plus innings and allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits to absorb the loss.

Josh Hamilton finished 2-for-4 with a solo home run for the Rangers, who have dropped two straight following a three-game winning streak. Feldman notched the other hit for Texas, while Milton Bradley walked twice.

"You have to tip your hat to Perez," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "He did a good job. He held us to three hits. We'll bounce back tomorrow."

After Hamilton smacked his AL-best 18th home run of the season -- an opposite field shot to the seats in left -- to put the visitors on the board in the top of the first, the Mets countered with a pair of runs in the home half.

Reyes had a leadoff single, advanced to second on a groundout and took third on a balk. After Wright lined out sharply to second baseman Ian Kinsler, Beltran reached out and pulled a perfectly placed single past a diving Chris Shelton at first base. Carlos Delgado then drew a walk. A double steal put runners on second and third for Anderson, who reached first on third baseman German Duran's throwing error. Brian Schneider popped out to end the inning.

Reyes reached on an infield hit to begin the bottom of the fifth, swiped second and came home on a sacrifice fly by Wright for a 3-1 lead.

Perez wiggled out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the sixth. Feldman led off with a single and Hamilton followed with a two-out hit. A walk to Bradley loaded the bases, but Perez retired David Murphy on strikes to thwart the rally.

The Mets extended their lead further in the next frame. Delgado lined a leadoff double to right-center field and Anderson drove him in with a long single that kicked off the base of the wall in right. Schneider then singled to put runners on the corners and Chavez followed with an RBI double just inside the right field line. Josh Rupe was summoned from the bullpen and Perez greeted him by punching a two-run single over the drawn-in infield to make it a 7-1 game.