Pirates Beat Mets, 3-1
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- The Pirates pulled off a 3-1 win against the New York Mets, wrapping up a four-game series on Monday night at PNC Park.
Paul Maholm (3-7, 3.12 ERA) allowed just three hits and struck out four over seven innings.
New York starter Mike Pelfrey nearly matched Maholm, giving up two runs and four hits in seven innings. He did not walk a batter.
Neil Walker had two RBIs as Pittsburgh (32-33) moved within a game of .500.
For the second time in three days, the Mets (32-34) missed an opportunity to reach .500 for the second time since April 9.
The first three Pirates batters of the game singled, with Walker's hit scoring Jose Tabata. Pelfrey, however, retired 20 of his final 21 after that. Wood led off the fifth by driving a 2-1 pitch to left for his second home run.
Both of Wood's homers have come during the 6-4 homestand Pittsburgh just completed.
Walker saw eight pitches and worked a two-out walk against Tim Byrdak in the eighth after three Pirates had singles off Manny Acosta to load the bases.
For the second consecutive game, the Mets had a sacrifice fly that turned into a double play. Monday, it was Jose Reyes who flied to left against Tim Wood with runners on first and third and no outs in the eighth.
Tabata made a sliding grab that appeared as if it possibly could have been a trap - but umpires ruled it a catch and Lucas Duda was doubled off first. Ruben Tejada scored on the play, the run upheld through a Pirates appeal that he left third too early.
That run was charged to Jose Veras, who allowed both batters he faced to reach.
Michael McKenry made his Pittsburgh debut less than 24 hours after the catcher was acquired in a trade from the Boston Red Sox. He went 0 for 3.
Since Chris Snyder was injured during an awkward slide trying to stretch a single into a double during the second inning Wednesday, Pirates catcher do not have a hit.
The Mets, who had won six of eight, allowed seven runs in the four-game series.
