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Gee remains undefeated in Mets' victory

May 31, 2011 - 4:36 AM Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Josh Thole hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the seventh inning and Dillon Gee stayed undefeated on the season, as the Mets defeated the Pirates, 7-3, to open a four-game series.

Gee (5-0) gave up three runs on five hits while striking out a career-high eight batters for the Mets, who posted 15 hits despite their leadoff hitter, Jose Reyes, being placed on the bereavement list before the game.

"I try to go out there and give us a chance to win every five days. Just try to be consistent," Gee said. "My changeup was pretty good tonight."

Ruben Tejada, Angel Pagan and Daniel Murphy all had three hits and drove in a run for the victors.

Daniel McCutchen (1-1) took the loss behind Charlie Morton, who got through six innings and was charged with three runs -- one earned -- on 11 hits.

Chris Snyder hit a two-run homer in the loss, Pittsburgh's fifth in seven games.

The Pirates tied the game, 3-3, in their turn of the seventh when Ronny Cedeno's fielder's choice grounder scored Lyle Overbay.

McCutchen relieved Morton in the bottom half having allowed just one earned run in 22 1/3 innings this season. But the reliever walked Carlos Beltran leading off, gave up a single to Murphy and served up a gapper to Thole that brought home both runners.

"This was a night that a leadoff walk became a challenge right away," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.

The Mets added two insurance runs in the eighth when Justin Turner doubled in Nick Evans and scored on Murphy's fielder's choice grounder, and the hosts held on from there.

In the second inning, Snyder became the first right-handed hitter to homer off the rookie Gee, crushing a two-run shot into the left-field seats.

But the catcher, filling in for the injured Ryan Doumit, had a costly passed ball in the bottom half. With runners on second and third and one out, Jason Pridie struck out swinging, and Snyder completely missed the late breaking pitch to bring in Daniel Murphy from third.

Tejada followed with a dribbler up the third-base line to plate Pagan before Morton stranded runners on second and third to keep it tied.

Gee retired 15 of 16 following Snyder's homer, and the Mets scored on Pagan's bases-loaded infield single in the fifth. Cedeno stopped Pagan's dribbler up the middle but couldn't get the ball out of his glove, leaving everyone safe, including Turner at the plate.

Game Notes

The Pirates have never won at Citi Field, going 0-8 there the past three years...Pittsburgh's starting pitchers have gone 11 straight games without giving up more than two earned runs...Doumit and infielder Steve Pearce were placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Pirates. Doumit is suffering from a left ankle sprain sustained in a play at the plate in Sunday's loss to the Cubs, while Pearce has a right calf strain...The Mets have not homered in nine straight games...Reyes left the team so he can attend his grandmother's funeral in the Dominican Republic...Turner has driven in a run in six straight games...Mets outfielder Jason Bay, the only Rookie of the Year in Pittsburgh history, did not play.