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Capuano, Mets beat Astros to avoid sweep

Apr 22, 2011 - 7:02 AM Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Chris Capuano threw seven solid innings and David Wright went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, three RBI and two runs scored as the New York Mets took a 9-1 win over the Houston Astros

Capuano (2-1) gave up one run on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts while Ike Davis and Mike Nickeas each hit solo shots for the Mets, who avoided the sweep.

"It was good to get a win," Wright said.

J.A. Happ (1-3) was tagged for six runs on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings for the Astros, who had won three of four coming in. Matt Downs drove in the lone run.

Nickeas' solo homer in the third got the Mets on the board and the team plated three more in the fourth.

With one out, Wright laced a pitch over the wall in left-center. Carlos Beltran then hit a single and Jason Bay followed with a ground-rule double. A wild pitch from Happ plated Beltran and Davis followed with a sac fly for a 4-0 lead.

In the fifth, Capuano doubled and Jose Reyes drew a walk before Wright punched a double to center to chase home both runners for a 6-0 lead.

The Astros got on the board in the seventh on a leadoff double from Brett Wallace followed by a single from Downs to make it a 6-1 game. However, the damage was limited as Humberto Quintero hit into a double play and Jason Bourgeois flied out to end the inning.

The ninth saw the Mets added three more runs. With two outs and Wright on first, Bay hit a fly ball to right field that Hunter Pence misplayed, allowing Wright and Bay to come home. Davis followed with a solo homer for a 9-1 lead.

Taylor Buchholz pitched the final two innings and finished the game by setting the Astros down in order in the ninth.

"We try to separate all the games," Astros manager Brad Mills said. "There's still some things where we'd like to have a little better at-bats and try to put some more runs on the board. We'll go back and we'll look at some things and move on."

Game Notes

Houston plays a three-game set in Milwaukee starting on Friday...New York hosts Arizona for three games beginning on Friday...The Mets won four of the seven games against Houston last season.