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Pelfrey, Beltran help Mets pound Rockies

Jul 14, 2008 - 4:36 AM By Zachary Braziller PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- The All-Star break couldn't have come at a worse time for the red-hot New York Mets.

Mike Pelfrey pitched eight scoreless frames and Carlos Beltran blasted a three-run shot in the first inning to lead the Mets to their season-best ninth straight win, a 7-0 triumph over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.

Beltran had three hits and Carlos Delgado also homered for the Mets, who completed a three-game sweep of the Rockies and posted their longest winning streak in over eight years. The last time New York won nine in row was April 16-25, 2000.

"Basically, we're doing everything right," Beltran said. "We're pitching good, we're getting hits with two outs. When you do those things, you're going to win a lot of ballgames."

Pelfrey (8-6) picked up his sixth win in as many starts, yielding just six hits with no walks and six strikeouts. He also induced three double plays to help his cause.

"I always had high expectations of myself," Pelfrey said. "I never imagined it would be like this, but I never thought I wasn't capable of it."

The 24-year-old righthander received all the run support he needed in the opening frame as Beltran connected on his 15th home run of the season, sending a three-run blast off Colorado starter Mark Redman (2-5) over the left field wall.

"I wasn't really looking for anything," Beltran said. "I hit the ball good and it went out."

New York added a run in the second on a run-scoring single by Jose Reyes and Nick Evans drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth to extend the lead to 5-0.

Delgado followed with his 17th blast of the year in the fifth, a towering two-run shot off reliever Ryan Speier. It was Delgado's sixth home run in his last 17 games.

The Rockies did threaten against Pelfrey in the fourth, doubling their previous output of hits in the frame as Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe had back-to-back singles. But Pelfrey induced Garrett Atkins into a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat.

"It's just confidence," Pelfrey said. "I know I don't have to be perfect. I trust my stuff and throw strikes."

A former first-round pick, Pelfrey also singled and laid down two sacrifice bunts to complete yet another stellar performance. In his last three starts, he has allowed just one earned run, 14 hits and struck out 16 over 21 innings.

"It was a tremendous effort," Mets interim manager Jerry Manuel said. "I think Pelfrey has a chance to leapfrog some people on this staff and become one of the top, top pitchers. Not only on our staff, but the entire league."

Held to four total hits in the first two games of the series, Colorado had seven in this one, but failed to scratch out a run. They were also shut out Saturday by righthander Pedro Martinez and four relievers in a 3-0 setback. It was the Mets' fourth shutout in six games.

"The way the entire pitching staff is doing, I'm very excited for what's to come," Manuel said. "I didn't realize we could be as dominant as we've been."