Beltran stops Mets' skid with home run

By The Associated Press

Thursday, June 12, 2008 11:51 AM EDT

NEW YORK - Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer with two outs in the 13th inning, and the New York Mets overcame another blown save by Billy Wagner to snap a five-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory Wednesday night over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Mets chased a bruised Brandon Webb early and took advantage of a key error by third baseman Mark Reynolds, who tied it by hitting a three-run shot off Wagner with two outs in the ninth inning.

That cost Mike Pelfrey a win in the best outing of his big league career, but New York refused to fold and avoided falling four games below .500 for the first time since Sept. 17, 2005, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Luis Castillo hit a hard one-hopper into Reynolds' midsection with one out in the 13th and reached safely when the ball trickled away.

David Wright fouled out but Beltran lined a 1-2 pitch from Edgar Gonzalez (1-3) to right-center for the fifth game-ending homer of his career and first since Aug. 22, 2006, off St. Louis reliever Jason Isringhausen.

Exhausted-looking Mets poured out of the dugout to celebrate at the plate, mobbing Beltran and bouncing in unison. Beltran also hit a two-run single in the fourth.

With two on in the top of the 13th, Claudio Vargas (3-2) got Conor Jackson to ground into an inning-ending double play. The NL West leaders have dropped 15 of 22.

Looking for his first win in 10 starts, Pelfrey outpitched Webb and took a four-hit shutout into the ninth. He was pulled after Stephen Drew's leadoff single on his 112th pitch and received a rousing ovation from the crowd of 46,503.

Wagner struck out Orlando Hudson before Jackson's double put runners at second and third. Chad Tracy struck out but Reynolds, who fanned all three times up against Pelfrey, drove a full-count fastball 420 feet into the left-center bleachers for his 15th home run.

That brought a chorus of boos directed at Wagner, who also served up a go-ahead, three-run homer to pinch-hitter Tony Clark in Sunday's 8-6 loss at San Diego.

This time, a frustrated Wagner tossed his head back and looked to the sky as Reynolds' drive sailed out. Pelfrey showed no emotion at all, staring straight ahead with his chin resting on the dugout railing.

It was Wagner's fourth blown save in 17 opportunities this season.

Hit on the right hip by Carlos Delgado's line-drive single during a three-run fourth, Webb departed for a pinch hitter in the sixth. He threw 40 of his 58 pitches for strikes in five innings, his second-shortest outing this year.

Pelfrey was throwing 95 mph in the eighth. He set career highs by striking out eight in eight-plus innings.

Webb, who leads the majors with 11 wins, has a 1.06 ERA in five career games at Shea Stadium. He beat Pelfrey 10-4 on May 3 in Arizona.

Pelfrey is 0-6 in 10 starts since beating Washington 6-0 on April 15, though he carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning May 15 against the Nationals and still lost 1-0.

The 24-year-old right-hander, selected ninth overall in the 2005 draft, has allowed only four runs in his past three starts spanning 21 innings.

Pelfrey even singled in the fifth, snapping an 0-for-22 stretch to start the season. But manager Willie Randolph made a curious move by letting Pelfrey bat leading off the eighth.

The crowd liked it at least, chanting Pelfrey's name and cheering him wildly after he struck out.

Mets 5

D-backs 3

Notes: Jackson, normally Arizona's first baseman, started in LF for the first time this season. Jeff Salazar was in RF, giving Justin Upton a rest. Upton was hit on the left hand by a pitch Tuesday night but could have started Wednesday, manager Bob Melvin said. Upton struck out as a pinch hitter in the eighth. ... The Mets do not have a complete game this season, but they do have two shutouts. ... It was Pelfrey's third hit in 53 major league at-bats. ... Mets SS Jose Reyes turned 25.

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