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Tejada lifts Mets over Pirates

Jun 3, 2011 - 1:32 AM Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Ruben Tejada knocked in three runs, including the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, lifting the New York Mets to a 9-8 win over Pittsburgh in the finale of a four-game series.

Carlos Beltran went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and knocked in four and Daniel Murphy added an RBI on a pinch-hit single as the Mets earned a split of the series after losing the previous two games.

New York starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey was shelled for seven runs on 10 hits in five innings, but was saved by the bullpen and offense.

"The guys came back and fought," said Pelfrey. "If you come back and tie the game and then lose, I would rather take the loss. But if you come back and win, it takes some of the disappointment [away]."

Tim Byrdak, Bobby Parnell, Jason Isringhausen and Francisco Rodriguez pitched one inning apiece, allowing one run on four hits and one walk. Isringhausen (1-0) picked up the win and Rodriguez got his 16th save of the season.

Xavier Paul went 4-for-5 with a triple, an RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Andrew McCutchen was 2-for-5 with two RBI and a stolen base and Neil Walker added a two-run homer and four RBI for the Pirates, who have lost three of their last five games.

Jose Veras (1-2) was charged with the loss after surrendering two runs in the eighth. He walked four batters, including one with the bases loaded.

Pittsburgh starter Paul Maholm gave up seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings.

It was 7-0 Pittsburgh going into the Mets' half of the third, when they began their comeback.

With two outs, Jose Reyes singled to left field and moved to second on a Justin Turner base hit. Beltran then belted a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence to cut Pittsburgh's lead to four in what Mets manager Terry Collins thought was the turning point in the game.

"We had a couple guys on, which we had done several times, but we finally got a big swing. That got us right back in the game," he said.

The Mets tied the game with a four-run sixth inning. Beltran started things off with a double and Jason Bay followed with a walk. Nick Evans then walked with two outs to load the bases and Tejada singled to right-center to score both Beltran and Bay. Murphy, who pinch-hit for Byrdak, laced a single to left to score Evans and move Tejada to third. Tejada then scored on a passed ball by Brown.

The Mets added two more runs in the eighth inning to take the lead for good. Ronny Paulino led off with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Willie Harris, who advanced to second on a balk and then to third on a wild pitch.

Veras eventually walked pinch-hitter Josh Thole. Tejada knocked in Harris with a sacrifice fly for the go-ahead run, and Thole went to second. Veras intentionally walked Murphy before walking Reyes to load the bases. After getting Turner to foul out, Veras walked Beltran, allowing Thole to score for a 9-7 lead.

"His command wasn't good," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of Veras. "The balk obviously complicated the situation. Maybe it did rattle him. But that was pretty uncharacteristic."

The Pirates showed signs of life in the ninth after Paul tripled to right field off Rodriguez. Walker knocked in Paul with two outs on a single, but Rodriguez got Lyle Overbay to pop out on the first pitch to seal the win for New York.

The Pirates jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Paul beat out a leadoff bunt, and then stole second base. A Josh Harrison single moved Paul to third before McCutchen knocked him in with a base hit, also moving Harrison to third.

Following his RBI base hit McCutchen stole second and Harrison scored when Walker grounded out to second base and McCutchen crossed the plate on a Matt Diaz blooper that dropped in between centerfielder Beltran and the outstretched arms of second baseman Tejada.

The Pirates kept their foot on the gas in the second inning, adding three more runs. Paul reached base on a one-out hit and stole second base. McCutchen then roped a hanging slider to left-center field to score Paul. Walker blasted a two-run homer to right field for a 6-0 lead.

Pittsburgh struck again in the third as Dusty Brown, who drew a two-out walk, moved to second on a Maholm single and scored on Paul's base hit.

Game Notes

Beltran's four RBI moved him into sole possession of seventh place on the Mets' all-time RBI list with 526...New York is now 3-4 on its current 10-game homestand...Pittsburgh shortstop Ronny Cedeno extended his consecutive-games streak without committing an error to 40, just two games short of tying the franchise record set by short stop Jack Wilson in 2008...Pittsburgh fell to 3-5 on the season in games tied after seven innings.