Flushing, NY – Garrett Jones hit a three-run homer to help the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the New York Mets, 7-3, in the second game of a four-game set.
Pedro Alvarez and Starling Marte had an RBI apiece for the Pirates, who have evened the series.
Pittsburgh starter Wandy Rodriguez (3-2) was effective, limiting the Mets to just one run on six hits over six frames. He also contributed with the bat, driving in one run in the victory. Jason Grilli got the final out of the game to notch his 14th save.
Shaun Marcum (0-3) got the start for the Mets and gave up six runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. Anthony Recker, Jordany Valdespin and Andrew Brown each drove in one run in the setback.
"I felt good, but I'm just not making pitches. When you leave balls up in the zone they're going to get hit," Marcum said.
The Pirates scored three runs in the second. Jones doubled to lead off the inning, followed by back-to-back singles by Jose Tabata and Alvarez, who scored Jones. Marcum then allowed a double by Michael McKenry and hit John McDonald with a pitch, loading the bases. Rodriguez grounded towards Marcum, but brought Alvarez home. Next was Marte, who plated McKenry with an infield single.
"It feels good to score early. It takes a lot of pressure off the pitching and gives us some confidence. We're right in every game, so it was nice to just score a bunch of runs and get the win," Jones said.
Marte was hit by a pitch to begin the fifth, followed by a single by Jordy Mercer, setting up Jones' three-run blast.
Recker's homer started the home fifth, putting the Mets on the board, but Pittsburgh added an insurance run in the ninth. Gaby Sanchez drew a walk to start the inning, Marte singled and Mercer walked to load the bases. Sanchez scored when Andrew McCutchen grounded into a double play.
Jose Contreras gave up a solo home run to Valdespin and an Andrew Brown RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. Grilli came on to replace Contreras and got Ruben Tejada to fly out with runners on first and second to end the game.
Game Notes
McCutchen was 0-for-5 ... The Mets were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
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