Flushing, NY (Sports Network) – Angel Pagan and Carlos Beltran each drove in three runs to back R.A. Dickey’s second complete game of the season, as the New York Mets dominated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-1, in the second test of a four-game series at Citi Field.
Dickey (11-6) gave up one run on five hits to record his career-best 11th victory. His other complete game came in a one-hitter against the Phillies on August 13. The right-hander, who also struck out four and walked three, improved to 7-1 at home this year.
Beltran and Nick Evans each hit a solo homer for the Mets, who won 1-0 in the series opener.
John Bowker drove in the lone run for the Pirates, who have lost five of six. Zach Duke (7-14) got rocked in 3 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs — seven earned — on nine hits.
The Mets got the run parade started in the home half. Jose Reyes singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and crossed the plate on Pagan’s base hit up the middle.
New York added three more runs in the second to make it 4-0. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with two outs. Pagan knocked in two runs with a double to right and Ryan Doumit’s fielding error on the play allowed another run to score.
Beltran and Evans homered in the third to give the Mets a six-run advantage.
New York put a three-spot on the board in the fourth to extend its lead to 9-0. Ruben Tejada led off with an infield single, moved to second on a Dickey sacrifice bunt, and raced home on Reyes’ single. Joe Martinez replaced Duke on the mound and gave up a single to Pagan. Beltran followed with a two- run double.
Dickey retired nine straight batters before giving up a two-out walk to Pedro Alvarez in the seventh.
Pittsburgh finally got to Dickey in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Pedro Ciriaco led off with a triple and scored when pinch-hitter Bowker grounded out. Andy LaRoche reached on third baseman David Wright’s fielding error then Jones followed with a single to put men on first and second. Dickey, though, retired the next two batters to finish the third complete game of his career.
The Mets lead the season series with the Pirates, 4-1…New York pitcher Johan Santana underwent successful surgery Tuesday morning to repair the tear of his anterior capsule of the left shoulder. The surgery was performed by Mets Medical Director Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan…Duke fell to 4-2 in eight career starts versus the Mets.