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Pirates rally to edge Mets

May 22, 2012 - 4:17 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Clint Barmes drove in the go-ahead run with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly and the Pirates rallied for a 5-4 win over the Mets in the opener of a three-game series.

Michael McKenry hit a game-tying two-run homer in the seventh and Jared Hughes (1-0) stranded a pair of the top of the eighth to earn the win. Joel Hanrahan picked up his 10th save of the season while starter Erik Bedard allowed four runs on six hits over five innings.

"4-0 down with (Johan) Santana on the mound? That's not the way I drew it up driving to the park today," remarked Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. "But the boys were able to chip away."

The Mets scored all of their runs in the second inning, which was highlighted by a two-run single from Justin Turner. David Wright improved his average to .415 with a pair of hits.

Jon Rauch (3-3) gave up the sac fly to Barmes to take the loss and Santana allowed four runs over 6 1/3 innings.

Rauch was not charged with the deciding run. He induced leadoff batter Neil Walker into a catchable fly but left fielder Mike Baxter and center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis simultaneously converged on the ball. They did not collide, but the ball glanced off Nieuwenhuis' glove and rolled to the wall, allowing Walker to reach third base. He crossed the plate, narrowly sliding in ahead of the tag, when Barmes lifted a shallow fly to right.

In the second inning, Vinny Rottino singled and scored on Ronny Cedeno's double to center. Walks to Mike Nickeas and Andres Torres loaded the bases with two down and Turner delivered a two-run single through the left side. Wright followed with an RBI base hit to right field.

"This was the third or fourth game now where we've scored three or four in an inning, and we look up later and that's all we've got," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We've got to add on, it would make it a lot easier for our pitching staff."

It was 4-2 in the fourth inning courtesy of back-to-back-to-back doubles by Josh Harrison, Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez. The Pirates left the bases loaded in the inning, but tied the game in the seventh when Barmes led off with a base hit and McKenry followed with a homer to left.

Game Notes

Hanrahan faced the minimum in the ninth inning...McKenry hit his third home run of the season...Santana saw his streak of five straight quality starts come to an end...The Mets were 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position.