Pirates Blow Lead, Lose 9-8 To Mets

NEW YORK (KDKA/AP) -- Despite building a seven-run lead in the third inning, the Pirates weren't able to hold down the Mets who staged their biggest comeback in 11 years, losing 9-8.

The Pirates led 7-0 until Carlos Beltran homered in the bottom of the third, then hit a leadoff
double in the sixth as the Mets scored four times to tie it at 7.

Ruben Tejada delivered a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth and Beltran drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning.

Paul Maholm (3.66 ERA) allowed seven runs and eight hits over 5 and 2/3 innings pitched. Jose Veras (1-2) takes the loss.

The Mets' beat-up bullpen hung tough the final four innings to salvage a split of the four-game series. Jason Isringhausen (1-0) worked the eighth for the win, and Francisco Rodriguez survived Neil Walker's RBI single in the ninth for his 16th save.

It was 7-all when Ronny Paulino led off the Mets eighth with a walk against Jose Veras (1-2), moved to second on a balk and third on a wild pitch. Tejada's sacrifice fly - his third RBI of the game - put the Mets ahead and Beltran's walk gave them an insurance run.

Beltran wound up with four RBIs, Daniel Murphy drove in a run and Jose Reyes provided a spark in his return from the bereavement list for New York.

Walker also hit a two-run homer, Xavier Paul had a career-high four hits and Andrew McCutchen drove in a pair of runs for the Pirates, who had been playing better on the road.

They won their 17th game away from PNC Park on Wednesday night, matching their total from all of last season, and had won seven of 10 series as the visiting club.