Game 26 Recap-
Pirates battled hard vs one of the better starting pitchers in recent memory but lose to a talented Mets team at Shea Stadium in New York Monday Night, 5-4 in 11 innings. Pittsburgh stayed in the game with Mets Ace Johan Santana(2 hits, 2 homers in 5+ innings!) starting and tied the game with solo runs in the 8th and 9th vs the Mets bullpen.
The game started fast with Pirates CF Nate McLouth leading off the game with a homer and LF Jason Bay followed that script with a solo shot of his own in the 4th to make it 2-0. Mets RF Ryan Church quickly tied it up off of Pirates starter Ian Snell (4 1/3 innings. 4 hits, 4 runs, 5 walks and 2 strike outs). The Mets chased Snell in the 5th with 2 more runs on a SS Jose Reyes run scoring triple and a fielders choice/error combo and it was now 4-2.
The game became a bullpen battle and the Pirates fared well.LHs Damaso Marte and John Grabow as well as RHs Tyler Yates and Franquelis Osoria kept a dangerous Mets team off of the scoreboard. The Pirates got a run in the 8th after 2 hits and a walk, 4-3. After a throwing error by Mets All Star SS Jose Reyes allowed the lead off runner to reach base in the 9th and after some great work, 2b Freddy Sanchez drove home PR Brian Bixler to tie the game at 4-4 off of Mets Closer Billy Wagner.
Recent call up RH John Van Benschoten, entered the game in the 11th and the Mets pests did him in. After Endy Chavez singled and was balked to 2nd, a sacrifice bunt and 2 ntentional walks the bases were loaded. Mets superstar 3b David Wright then hit a towering drive towards the foul pole area in RF, the ball bounced fair then out of play. METS WIN!!!
Star of the Game-How about the Pirates relievers! 6+ innings of 1 run ball
Pirates Notes- Team was 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position…
Next Game-
Wednesday-1:10 PM-NY
Pirates LH Tom Gorzelanny(1-3) vs Mets LH Oliver Perez(2-1)
