Flushing, NY (Sports Network) – Mike Pelfrey worked eight scoreless frames as the New York Mets took a 2-1 win over the Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game set.
Pelfrey (13-7) gave up just six hits and two walks while striking out four for the Mets, who had dropped three of four coming in. Ruben Tejada and David Wright each drove in a run.
Nelson Figueroa (3-2) went seven frames and was charged with two runs — one earned — on three hits with five walks and two strikeouts for the Astros, who were coming off a four-game sweep of the Phillies in Philadelphia and had a five-game winning streak snapped. Jason Michaels drove in the lone Houston run.
After Houston left the bases loaded in the first, the Mets jumped on top in the bottom of the frame, as Wright’s sacrifice fly scored Luis Castillo for a 1-0 lead.
In the fourth, Houston got a one-out double from Chris Johnson. Angel Sanchez hit a single later in the frame, but Johnson was caught in a run-down as he rounded third and was tagged out to end the frame.
New York tacked on another run in the fourth as Tejada worked a walk with the bases loaded to bring home Ike Davis. However, the team wasted a chance to score more as Pelfrey hit into a double play to end the inning.
Houston got a leadoff single from Jason Bourgeois in the eighth, but Michael Bourn hit into a double play and Anderson Hernandez flied out to end the frame.
The Astros put men on first and third with one out off of Bobby Parnell in the ninth. Hisanori Takahashi then took the mound, and Michaels’ pinch-hit single to left made it a one-run game.
Takahashi, though, got Angel Sanchez to pop out and Tommy Manzella to look at strike three to pick up his second save of the season.
These teams split a four-game series in Houston last week…Pelfrey improved to 3-2 in five career starts against Houston…Houston left seven men on base…Pelfrey went 3-2 in five starts in August.