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Maholm dominates in Pirates' win

Jun 14, 2011 - 4:03 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Neil Walker had two runs batted in to help back seven shutout innings from Paul Maholm, as the Pittsburgh Pirates topped the Mets, 3-1, in the finale of a four-game set at PNC Park.

Brandon Wood added a solo homer for Pittsburgh, which earned a split of the series.

Maholm (3-7) was sensational, scattering three hits and a pair of walks while striking out four. Joel Hanrahan worked a perfect ninth inning to record his 17th save of the season.

Jose Reyes hit a sacrifice fly to account for the lone run for the Mets, who have split their last six games.

Mike Pelfrey (3-5) turned in a quality start, working seven solid innings. The righty gave up two runs on four hits and struck out six without issuing a walk.

Pittsburgh scored a run in the first to grab the early edge. Consecutive singles by Jose Tabata and Xavier Paul put runners on the corners with nobody out before Walker lined an RBI base hit to center.

The Mets stranded a pair of runners in the second and had another threat turned aside in the fifth.

Wood led off the home fifth with a shot into the left-field seats to make it a 2-0 game.

Maholm retired the final five batters he faced before being replaced by Jose Veras in the eighth. The right-hander walked Ruben Tejada and pinch-hitter Lucas Duda singled through the right side to put runners on the corners.

Tim Wood entered in place of Veras and Reyes laced a first-pitch sinker to left. Tabata made a nice sliding catch on the sinking liner that scored a run, but Duda could not get back to first and was easily doubled up.

"I think I should have went halfway on it," said Duda, second guessing himself. "It was my fault."

Three consecutive one-out singles in the bottom half loaded the bases. Tim Byrdak came on in place of Manny Acosta and struck out Paul before Walker drew a free pass to force in a run and put the Pirates up 3-1. D.J. Carrasco was summoned from the Mets bullpen and retired pinch-hitter Matt Diaz to prevent further damage.

Hanrahan retired Carlos Beltran, Angel Pagan and Jason Bay to close the game.

"As far as coming in and finishing off games, you could not ask for any more than what he's done so far," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of his closer.

Game Notes

Newly acquired Pirates catcher Michael McKenry was in the starting lineup and went 0-for-3. To make room on the roster, the club designated catcher Wyatt Toregas for assignment on Monday. McKenry was picked up from the Boston Red Sox on Sunday for a player to be named later or cash considerations...The Mets and Pirates split a four-game set in Flushing from May 30-June 2, but New York is still 11-5 in the last 16 meetings overall...Pittsburgh went 6-4 on its 10- game homestand.