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| Wright's walk-off hit lifts Mets in 11th NY METS 5, PITTSBURGH 4 (11 INNINGS) |
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By Doug Mittler PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- First David Wright swung, and then all he could do was watch. When the ball finally came down just inside the foul line, the New York Mets had their third straight victory. Wright sliced an RBI single down the right field line in the 11th inning to lift the York Mets to a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night. "I was begging the wind to keep it fair," Wright said. "I saw (right fielder Xavier Nady) standing there and it was just the ball against the wind." Endy Chavez singled off John Van Benschoten (0-1) for his third hit of the game to lead off the inning. A balk on the Pirates reliever moved Chavez to second and a sacrifice by Marlon Anderson advanced the runner to third. Jose Reyes reached base for the sixth time in as many plate appearances when he was intentionally walked and a walk to Luis Castillo loaded the bases before Wright lofted a pitch to deep right field, ending a game that the Mets failed to close out in nine innings. "These are the type of games we always won in 2006," said Wright of the year the Mets easily won the National League East. "These are the games that could go either way." The Mets had been 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position before Wright's first walk-off hit since June 23, 2007, against Oakland. Jorge Sosa (3-1) pitched a scoreless 11th inning for the victory. Billy Wagner, the sixth Mets pitcher, had not permitted a run in his first 10 innings this season before allowing an RBI single to Freddy Sanchez in the ninth that tied it at 4-4. "I made the pitch I wanted. I just didn't get the result," Wagner said. "They are a lot more disciplined than in years past." Pinch hitter Ryan Doumit reached on a throwing error by shortstop Jose Reyes to open the inning and pinch runner Brian Bixler went to second on a wild pitch. One out later, Sanchez lined a single to right center, giving Wagner his first blown save of the season. Mets starter Johan Santana was denied a victory after needing 114 pitches to get through 5 2/3 innings. The two-time Cy Young Award winner was not at his best, allowing solo home runs to Nate McLouth to lead off the game and to Jason Bay with one out in the fourth. "It wasn't the way the people wanted it, but we won," said Santana, who admitted to having trouble gripping the ball in the cool conditions. "It was kind of slippery, but that's no excuse." Santana, who has allowed five home runs in two Shea Stadium starts this season, struck out seven and walked three. Ryan Church hit a two-run homer in the fourth before the Mets scored twice in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. Reyes had an RBI triple off the right-center field wall and Sanchez, the second baseman, failed to handle a relay on a potential double-play grounder by Wright, allowing the fourth run to score. Pirates starter Ian Snell allowed four runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings. Pittsburgh put its first two runners on base in both the seventh and eighth innings but managed just one run. "Our offense had a lot of opportunities," manager John Russell said. "We just can't seem to get the big hit. We have people who want to step up, and maybe it's mental. Maybe they're trying too hard. ... I know this: We're swinging the bats better." McLouth became the first Pirate to lead off back-to-back games with a homer since Barry Bonds in May 1988. Bay made it 2-0 with his sixth homer of the season, a one-out blast in the fourth. The Pirates lost for the 10th time in 13 games. "We all need to do better in those situations," third baseman Jose Bautista said. "We're creating chances, which is a good thing, but there needs to be more." |
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