NEW YORK – Angel Pagan capped New York's seven-run fourth inning with a tiebreaking two-run single and the Mets handed the Pittsburgh Pirates another road loss with an 8-7 victory Wednesday night.
Jose Reyes hit his 10th homer in the sixth inning for the Mets, who have won three straight.
The Pirates helped New York out with two errors in the big fourth inning, when they wasted a 5-0 lead. Ike Davis and pinch-hitter Mike Hessman each had run-scoring hits in the frame.
Paul Maholm (7-15) lasted just 3 2-3 innings for Pittsburgh, which dropped to 15-58 on the road and could threaten the 1963 Mets' record for worst road mark (17-64) in a 162-game season.
Raul Valdes (3-3) came in when Mets starter Jenrry Mejia left with one out in the third inning after straining a muscle in the back of his shoulder. Valdes allowed four runs in 1 2-3 innings and Hisanori Takahashi, the last of seven Mets pitchers, surrendered a homer to Andrew McCutchen on his first pitch before retiring three straight for his seventh save in seven chances.
Seven consecutive batters reached after Pagan led off the fourth with a routine grounder. He came up again with two down and singled to left-center to put the Mets ahead 7-5.
The Pirates let the tying run score when shortstop Ronny Cedeno mishandled a one-out grounder by pinch-hitter Joaquin Arias. Before Cedeno's miscue, catcher Chris Snyder dropped a throw from third baseman Pedro Alvarez on Ruben Tejada's grounder, letting Davis and Nick Evans score.
Maholm (7-15) was charged with seven runs, just two earned, and seven hits. He walked two and struck out one.
The Mets had their own fielding problems in Pittsburgh's four-run fourth.
Snyder came around on McCutchen's two-run single when Mets catcher Henry Blanco caught the ball up the line toward third, but could only lunge at him coming home. He missed, but forced Snyder wide around him and past home.
Both players dove for the plate, but when Blanco pushed himself up with his glove hand, the ball popped loose because it had been snared in the top of his webbing, and Snyder scored easily.
The Pirates have lost their only six games at Citi Field. They get another chance Thursday when this four-game series wraps up.
NOTES: The Mets said Mejia went for an MRI to evaluate what they called an acute strain. ... Pirates pinch hitter Ryan Doumit delivered an RBI double off Bobby Parnell in the top of the eighth. ... It was Filipino Heritage Night at Citi Field. Costumed dancers performed in the outfield before the game. ... The Mets honored their minor league prospects who won organizational awards, having all eight of them throw out first pitches simultaneously. ... Valdes' win gave the Mets 22 by rookie pitchers this season. ... Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez was shown on the big screen operating a camera during a pitching change in the eighth inning.
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