Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) – Angel Pagan had three hits and drove in three runs, and the Mets used seven doubles and 14 hits to defeat the Cleveland Indians, 8-4, in the second of three games at Progressive Field.
Ike Davis finished with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored, while David Wright drove in a pair for the Mets, who have won six straight overall and 10 of 11. New York went 7-for-14 with runners in scoring position and has scored 26 runs in its last three games.
Jonathan Niese (4-2), coming off his first career shutout, allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks in seven solid innings.
Shelley Duncan hit his second two-run homer in as many games for the Indians, who have lost three straight following a four-game win streak. Mitch Talbot (7-5) gave up a career-worst eight runs on 13 hits in 5 2/3 innings to take the loss.
The Mets’ bats came alive in a five-run third.
With one out, Ruben Tejada and Jose Reyes both singled to put runners on the corners. Then, Pagan, Wright, Davis and Jason Bay hit four consecutive doubles, scoring five total runs. Each of the two-base hits were toward left field to help New York build a big advantage.
The Indians got on the board and snapped Niese’s 12-inning scoreless streak on Duncan’s two-run homer to left in the fourth.
Cleveland cut into its deficit again in the fifth, as Jason Donald doubled leading off and scored on Carlos Santana’s two-out base hit for a 5-3 contest. Santana was called out at second after sliding past the base.
The Mets, though, restored their five-run lead with a three-run sixth to chase Talbot from the game. Chris Carter, Rod Barajas and Jeff Francoeur began the frame with three consecutive singles, scoring one and leaving runners on first and second.
Tejada sacrificed the runners to second and third, and Pagan poked a two-out, two-run single to center for an 8-3 game.
Jhonny Peralta’s sacrifice fly in the eighth for Cleveland capped the scoring.
Bay left the game with a quad contusion. He tumbled over first base on his second-inning at-bat while trying to stretch out an infield single, but stayed in the game initially…The Mets have won five straight on the road, but are still just 13-18 away from Citi Field…New York is 7-1 in interleague play, while Cleveland is 3-5…Wright has recorded an RBI in six straight games…