Mets 4, Pirates 3 (12)

It should not take twelve innings to beat the Pirates. When Endy Chavez is the offensive star of the game, something has gone awry. But Chavez had four hits, two of them doubles, to lead the way for the Mets. He did not play a role in the eventual game-winning run, however.

The Mets got off to a good start, scoring a few runs and getting excellent starting pitching. Pedro Martinez lasted just six innings for some reason, having thrown only 77 pitches, but he gave up just one run on three hits and one walk, striking out nine. He was well on his way to his sixth win of the season when he exited, up 3-1 and leaving the game in the capable hands of the Mets' bullpen.

Aaron Heilman pitched two excellent innings, allowing none to reach base and striking out two. But things did not go so smoothly in the ninth. Billy Wagner walked two of the first three batters he faced and wound up giving up two ground ball singles through the left side to drive in two runs. And so we went to extra innings.

Now, Chavez wasn't the only Met who did anything with the bat. Kazuo Matsui and Carlos Delgado each had a double. Jose Reyes had an RBI triple. And the unstoppable Ramon Castro got the start and drew two walks, though he did go hitless, dropping his batting average below .400. But the Mets offense couldn't put this game away until the bottom of the twelfth. That was when Delgado bailed everyone out by hitting another home run, his eleventh of the season. Apparently a game can only go on for so long before Delgado does something great with the bat.

Tomorrow the Mets have another chance to be frustrated by an inexperienced starting pitcher as they face young Paul Maholm (1-3, 5.86). Tom Glavine (3-2, 2.29) will try to earn the narrow victory for the Mets. Possibly someone other than Delgado will help him with that. And possibly not.  ¶ joe | 11:22 PM |