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Bench Warmer
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH -- Jason Jaramillo drove in a career-high four runs, prized prospect Andrew McCutchen had a productive major league debut and the Pittsburgh Pirates completed a rain-shortened, three-game sweep of the New York Mets 11-6 on Thursday.
Ramon Vazquez went 4 for 4 and Andy LaRoche had two RBIs and scored two runs for Pittsburgh, which played its first game since trading All-Star center fielder Nate McLouth to Atlanta on Wednesday.
The deal made room for McCutchen, a 22-year-old speedy center fielder. He went 2 for 4 with three runs, a walk, an RBI and a stolen base as the Pirates roughed up Mets starter Mike Pelfrey.
Carlos Beltran, playing his first game in five days because of a stomach virus, homered and doubled off the wall for New York. David Wright broke out of a slump with two hits and two walks for the Mets, who have lost four of five. They were swept on the road for the third time this season.
Pelfrey (4-2) allowed a career-worst nine runs -- eight earned -- and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. He is the first Mets starter to allow nine runs since Jason Vargas on July 3, 2007, at Colorado.
Pelfrey had been charged with a combined seven runs in his past four starts. He walked four and struck out three in this one.
Steven Jackson (1-0) earned his first major league win in his second game with two scoreless innings of relief.
The Pirates had only two extra-base hits in the game -- a double and a triple -- but scored nine runs during the first four innings.
Pittsburgh manager John Russell inserted McCutchen into the leadoff spot, hoping he'd spark the offense. It worked immediately, as McCutchen singled up the middle in his first major league at-bat, starting a four-run first. LaRoche and Jaramillo each had a two-run single.
McCutchen singled home Vazquez in the seventh and scored when Nyjer Morgan followed with a triple. Morgan had two hits and scored twice.
Adam LaRoche had an RBI double in the second, and Pittsburgh's four-run fourth chased Pelfrey. Jaramillo hit his second two-run single of the game, and Vazquez also had an RBI single.
Beltran's seventh homer, to right-center, came with two outs and none on in the fourth.
The Mets got RBI singles from Daniel Murphy and Luis Castillo, and an RBI double from Alex Cora, in the second. Fernando Martinez doubled to score Wright in the fifth.
Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf was charged with five runs, nine hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings.
Game notes
Mets manager Jerry Manuel said before the game that SS Jose Reyes (calf) will head back to Florida to play in extended spring training games to further his rehabilitation. New York hopes to have Reyes back next week. ... Andy LaRoche was removed at the start of the seventh inning due to a bruised right knee. He was hit by a pitch in the fourth, and he is day to day. ... Despite being swept at Citi Field last month, Pittsburgh is 11-5 against NL East teams this season.
PITTSBURGH -- Jason Jaramillo drove in a career-high four runs, prized prospect Andrew McCutchen had a productive major league debut and the Pittsburgh Pirates completed a rain-shortened, three-game sweep of the New York Mets 11-6 on Thursday.
Ramon Vazquez went 4 for 4 and Andy LaRoche had two RBIs and scored two runs for Pittsburgh, which played its first game since trading All-Star center fielder Nate McLouth to Atlanta on Wednesday.
The deal made room for McCutchen, a 22-year-old speedy center fielder. He went 2 for 4 with three runs, a walk, an RBI and a stolen base as the Pirates roughed up Mets starter Mike Pelfrey.
Carlos Beltran, playing his first game in five days because of a stomach virus, homered and doubled off the wall for New York. David Wright broke out of a slump with two hits and two walks for the Mets, who have lost four of five. They were swept on the road for the third time this season.
Pelfrey (4-2) allowed a career-worst nine runs -- eight earned -- and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. He is the first Mets starter to allow nine runs since Jason Vargas on July 3, 2007, at Colorado.
Pelfrey had been charged with a combined seven runs in his past four starts. He walked four and struck out three in this one.
Steven Jackson (1-0) earned his first major league win in his second game with two scoreless innings of relief.
The Pirates had only two extra-base hits in the game -- a double and a triple -- but scored nine runs during the first four innings.
Pittsburgh manager John Russell inserted McCutchen into the leadoff spot, hoping he'd spark the offense. It worked immediately, as McCutchen singled up the middle in his first major league at-bat, starting a four-run first. LaRoche and Jaramillo each had a two-run single.
McCutchen singled home Vazquez in the seventh and scored when Nyjer Morgan followed with a triple. Morgan had two hits and scored twice.
Adam LaRoche had an RBI double in the second, and Pittsburgh's four-run fourth chased Pelfrey. Jaramillo hit his second two-run single of the game, and Vazquez also had an RBI single.
Beltran's seventh homer, to right-center, came with two outs and none on in the fourth.
The Mets got RBI singles from Daniel Murphy and Luis Castillo, and an RBI double from Alex Cora, in the second. Fernando Martinez doubled to score Wright in the fifth.
Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf was charged with five runs, nine hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings.
Game notes
Mets manager Jerry Manuel said before the game that SS Jose Reyes (calf) will head back to Florida to play in extended spring training games to further his rehabilitation. New York hopes to have Reyes back next week. ... Andy LaRoche was removed at the start of the seventh inning due to a bruised right knee. He was hit by a pitch in the fourth, and he is day to day. ... Despite being swept at Citi Field last month, Pittsburgh is 11-5 against NL East teams this season.
