Sports Network | September 13, 2010
Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Nick Evans singled home Ruben Tejada with one out in the 10th to lift New York to a 1-0 win over Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game set.
Tejada doubled with one out and scored well ahead of an off-line throw from left-fielder Jose Tabata when Evans followed with a single through the left side to give the Mets their 14th last at-bat victory of the season.
Hisanori Takahashi (9-6) earned the win with two scoreless frames in relief while Dillon Gee allowed five hits, walked four and fanned three over six shutout innings in his second major league start for the Mets, who tossed their major-league leading 19th shutout of the season.
Chan-Ho Park (1-2) absorbed the loss for the Pirates, who have dropped four of their last five.
Andrew McCutchen led off the top of the tenth with a double but was thrown out trying to advance to third on a poor bunt attempt out in front of the plate by Tabata. Takahashi then set down the next two hitters to close the inning.
Pirates starter James McDonald spun eight scoreless frames, allowing five hits, walking two and fanning four before Chris Resop kept the hosts off the board in the ninth.
The Mets put two runners on in the second, but Luis Hernandez struck out to end the threat and then stranded Gee at third with one out in the next inning when Angel Pagan lined out and Carlos Beltran fanned.
The visitors put runners at first and second with one out in the fifth, but could not break through after Garrett Jones flied out and Pedro Alvarez grounded out.
The Mets left a runner at second in the seventh and eighth innings.
The Mets are 17-6 in series openers at home...New York leads the season series, 3-1...The Mets improved to 19-51 when scoring three runs or fewer and to 22-27 in one-run games...Park had allowed only one earned run in 11 2/3 innings over his last 12 outings before Monday night...Pirates second baseman Neil Walker went 0-for-3 and lost a career-high 18-game hitting streak...Bucs pinch-hitter Andy LaRoche struck out to end the ninth inning and has one hit in his last 22 at-bats.