Flushing, NY - Tom Glavine picked up career victory No. 299, as the New York Mets trumped the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-3, in the middle installment of a three-game series at Shea Stadium.
Glavine (9-6) allowed three runs on eight hits over six innings for the Mets, who have won five of their last six contests. One more win, and Glavine will join Lefty Grove and Early Wynn at 21st on the all-time list with 300 victories.
Paul Lo Duca drove in four runs for the Mets, while Marlon Anderson and Damion Easley came through with an RBI each.
Jason Bay hit a two-run homer for Pittsburgh, which has lost 10 of 11. Starter Tom Gorzelanny (9-6) left the game in the third due to left shoulder stiffness. Before exiting he was tagged for six runs on seven hits over 2 1/3 frames.
New York put up a three-spot in the first inning to forge ahead. With the bases loaded and one out, Lo Duca slapped a double to left that plated both Lastings Milledge and David Wright. Anderson added a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
The Mets went on to double their advantage in the third. After a Wright double and a Carlos Delgado walk, Lo Duca hit a double into the left-center gap that brought both runners in for a 5-0 lead. Anderson and Easley followed with back-to-back singles to bring another run home.
The Pirates whittled the deficit down to three runs in the fifth. Adam LaRoche pushed the first Pittsburgh run across with an RBI groundout, then came in on Bay’s homer to left in the next sequence.
The Mets bullpen shut the door from there, though, with Billy Wagner working the ninth for his 23rd save on his 36th birthday.
Game Notes
Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran sat out Wednesday’s game due to an abdominal sprain suffered during batting practice…Glavine is 22-12 in his career against the Pirates, including a 3-0 mark over the last two seasons…Pirates manager Jim Tracy was ejected in the third for arguing with the umpire.
