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Beltran, Pelfrey help Mets KO Giants

Jul 9, 2008 - 2:45 AM By Doug Mittler PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Mike Pelfrey and the New York Mets continued to hit their stride, even with All-Star Tim Lincecum standing in the way.

Pelfrey pitched seven scoreless innings to outduel Lincecum and Carlos Beltran hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs to lead the Mets to a 7-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday.

Carlos Delgado and Fernando Tatis also homered for the Mets, who have won four straight games, their longest streak since taking a season-high five in a row from April 15-19. New York (46-44), which banged out 14 hits, is two games over .500 for the first time since June 4.

"We're playing a lot better. We're coming together as a team," Beltran said. "We can turn things around quickly."

While Lincecum, a 2006 first-round draft pick of the Giants, has emerged as one of baseball's top young pitchers, the Mets have been patiently waiting for the same from Pelfrey since taking him with the ninth overall pick in 2005.

The 24-year-old Pelfrey (7-6) struggled through 2007 and lost six straight decisions at one point this season. But the righthander has now won his last five starts and he had few problems with the Giants, allowing three hits with no walks and five strikeouts.

"I have a lot more confidence, a lot more faith in myself," Pelfrey said. "When you throw the ball with conviction, it tends to act differently."

In the process, the Mets handed Lincecum (10-2) just his second loss of the season and first since April 29 against Colorado.

"Their guy pitched a great game. He shut us down completely," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

Lincecum, who had won six straight decisions and was undefeated in his last 12 starts, allowed four runs and a season-high nine hits in six innings. He admitted to not having his best stuff.

"My arm feels the same as it always does, but today I didn't feel like I had any juice on it," Lincecum said. "I didn't feel like I had any rhythm in the bullpen. When you leave pitches up, they'll get crushed."

The Mets scored 23 runs in winning the final three games of their weekend series in Philadelphia and kept up the pace offensively in the first inning Tuesday. Endy Chavez singled and David Wright walked before Beltran lofted his 250th career home run and second in three games over the right field fence for a 3-0 lead.

"You could sense the momentum turning in our favor," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said of the first inning.

Pelfrey struggled in the first when the Giants loaded the bases with two outs before John Bowker struck out looking. Pelfrey settled down and allowed just a pair of singles over the next six innings.

Scott Schoeneweis and Joe Smith each pitched an inning to complete the third shutout of the season for the Mets, who have outscored the opposition, 45-14, in Pelfrey's last five starts.

Delgado hit a 435-foot homer off Lincecum in the sixth to increase the lead to 4-0. Beltran, who had three hits, and Damion Easley had RBI singles in the seventh.

Tatis homered in the eighth off Kevin Correia.

The Mets welcomed back several past members of the NFL New York Jets for Tuesday's game as part of their season-long tribute to Shea Stadium, which will close after this season. The Jets played at Shea from 1964 to 1983.