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Maholm sharp as Pirates top Mets

Jul 26, 2007 - 8:29 PM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - The Pittsburgh Pirates have just two wins since the All-Star break, and they both belong to Paul Maholm.

Maholm pitched six effective innings and had a single in a five-run sixth as the Pirates defeated former teammate Oliver Perez and salvaged the finale of a three-game series with an 8-4 victory over the New York Mets on Thursday afternoon.

Xavier Nady had a two-run single and Josh Phelps belted a two-run homer in the sixth against Perez, who came undone following a pivotal throwing error.

The Pirates won for just the second time in their last 12 games, all since the All-Star break. The other win in that span was Maholm's 7-3 triumph over the Houston Astros last weekend.

"Maholm had another excellent performance. He's been doing that on a regular basis," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said. "His command was terrific."

Maholm (7-13) is among the National League leaders in losses but has pitched far better than his record would indicate. The 25-year-old lefthander won for the third time in four starts, allowing three runs and six hits - while striking out three and walking one - before leaving after allowing the first two batters to reach in the seventh.

"I was just hitting my spots for the most part and wasn't giving in to them," Maholm said. "I just went out there trying to put up zeroes and then let the offense try to figure it out. I have all the confidence in the world in these guys."

Perez (9-7) lasted six innings and was charged with five runs - none earned - and five hits with one walk and nine strikeouts.

The lefthander made his first start against the Pirates since they shipped him to the Mets at the 2006 trade deadline. He spent parts of four seasons in Pittsburgh and was the Pirates' Opening Day starter in 2005.

"I just take it like any other team," Perez said. "I was just trying to win one for my team now."

The only baserunner allowed by Perez through the first five innings was an infield single by Phelps in the second, but the game fell apart for him in the sixth.

Nate McLouth singled to center to lead off the inning before Maholm first squared to bunt and then chopped a pitch to the left side for an infield single. Perez then fielded a bunt by Cesar Izturis near the third base line, but his throw sailed over the head of first baseman Carlos Delgado to tie the game at 1-1.

"It was a pretty good bunt, but if you make the throw there you get the guy out," Mets manager Willie Randolph said.

It was the first error charged to a Mets starter this season.

Perez retired the next two batters, but Nady hit a hard ground ball that bounced off the leg of third baseman David Wright for a two-run single, giving the Pirates a 3-1 lead.

Phelps followed with a two-run homer to left-center field.

"It was a 2-2 fastball right over the heart of the plate," Phelps said. "That's the best you can hope for in a count like that."

The Pirates added three runs in the seventh on RBI singles by Jason Bay and Nady and an RBI double by Phelps that made it 8-2.

All three hits were off struggling reliever Joe Smith, who was optioned to Class AAA New Orleans after the game.

Damaso Marte worked the seventh, allowing a sacrifice fly to Ruben Gotay.

Shawn Chacon allowed a home run to Reyes in the eighth and Matt Capps worked the ninth.

Milledge, who homered with one out in the sixth, started his second straight game in center field in place of Carlos Beltran, who suffered an abdominal strain during batting practice on Wednesday.