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Pelfrey sharp as Mets squeak by Pirates

Aug 16, 2008 - 4:58 AM By Chris Adamski PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Mike Pelfrey just keeps on winning, and the National League-East leading New York Mets are doing the same.

Pelfrey threw seven scoreless innings as the Mets posted their fourth straight win, a 2-1 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.

David Wright had an RBI single and Argenis Reyes scored on a wild pitch for New York (66-56), which leads the Philadelphia Phillies (65-57) by one game in the National League East. Pelfrey (11-8) allowed just seven hits with one strikeout. He did not walk a batter en route to his ninth win since May 31 - tops in the National League.

"(Pelfrey) did a good job," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "He got the big outs when we needed them. I think that's a sign he's developing into a quality pitcher. He doesn't panic when he gets into trouble. That's the thing that's been impressive about him."

The 24-year-old righthander outdueled Jason Davis (1-2), who allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings.

"I just tried to keep the ball down," Pelfrey said. "They hit some balls hard, and I was very fortunate the guys played some good defense. The whole thing is, I'm just trying to locate pitches in the bottom of the strike zone and get ground balls."

Jack Wilson homered and Adam LaRoche had three hits for Pittsburgh, which has lost five of seven.

"We just didn't execute enough tonight," Wilson said. "We didn't get the job done with most of our chances, didn't come through."

New York gave Pelfrey all the support he needed in the first. Jose Reyes and Argenis Reyes each singled before Wright's RBI single made it 1-0.

Argenis Reyes scored on a wild pitch later in the frame for a 2-0 lead.

"I left a couple balls up over the plate (in the first inning), and they did what they're supposed to do with them," Davis said. "After that, I was pounding the strike zone down and getting ground balls."

Pelfrey was sharp, but he also benefited from some timely defense. Double plays got him out of jams twice, while center fielder Carlos Beltran threw out LaRoche at the plate on a single by Brandon Moss in the seventh.

"Anytime we play that type of defense with a sinkerball pitcher, which keeps you in the game for the most part, that gives you a good chance to win," Manuel said. "And that's what happened tonight."

Pelfrey gave way to former Pirate Duaner Sanchez in the eighth. Sanchez was greeted by Wilson, who belted his first home run since September 16, halving the deficit. But Pedro Feliciano got the final two outs of the eighth and Aaron Heilman bounced back to notch his third save in six chances.

Heilman has struggled while serving as the interim closer with All-Star Billy Wagner on the disabled list. The righthander allowed three runs in the ninth inning of Monday's 7-5 home loss to Pittsburgh but worked around a two-out walk in this one by getting Wilson to pop out, securing the Mets' fourth straight win.

"When things happen in this league, you know you're going to get another chance pretty quickly," Heilman said. "It feels good to be able to go out there and get another good victory. Pelfrey threw the ball great tonight, there was great defense and good hitting. It was a good ballgame."

Wagner is expected to be activated on Monday.