Paul Maholm pitched seven scoreless innings in the Pirates' series finale against the New York Mets Monday night at PNC Park, leading Pittsburgh to a 3-1 win.
The Pirates scored a run in the first inning, thanks in part to a strange interference call against Jose Reyes that resulted in Jose Tabata being called safe at third base after making a bad decision to try to make it there with no outs. Neil Walker singled in Tabata. Brandon Wood then hit a solo homer off Mike Pelfrey in the fifth.
The Mets managed to shut down the 10 batters before Wood and the 10 batters after, as the Pirates demonstrated a pattern of offensive ineptitude that has become all too familiar. The game looked like it might get ugly after Maholm left in the eighth, as the Pirates turned to Jose Veras, who has struggled recently. Veras walked the first batter and then allowed a single, and Clint Hurdle replaced him from Tim Wood, who quickly got Reyes to fly into a double play, limiting the Mets to one run.
The Pirates added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning when they got three straight one-out singles, and then Walker walked with the bases loaded. Joel Hanrahan picked up the save.
New catcher Mike McKenry made his debut with the Pirates and went 0-for-3, but looked great gunning down a runner in the fifth.