R.A. Dickey struck out a career-high 11 in seven innings of work during the New York Mets' 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night at PNC Park. Dickey (6-1) gave up just five hits and one earned run to help tie the three-game series at one win apiece. The Mets improved to 22-20 on the season.
Pirates starter James McDonald also had a solid night on the mound. He struck out eight and gave up four hits and just one earned run in his seven innings of work. The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a Mike Nickeas single to score Daniel Murphy.
Dickey's lone earned run didn't come until the sixth inning when Andrew McCutchen hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at game at 1-1. The Mets responded in eighth inning. Lucas Duda hit an RBI single off losing pitcher Juan Cruz (1-1) to score Mike Baxter. Murphy followed up with a ground ball into a fielder's choice bringing Kirk Nieuwenhuis home and putting the Mets up 3-1.
The Pirates came back with a run earned off of Jon Rauch in the eighth inning. Tim Byrdak replaced Rauch to help the Mets out of the inning, however, and Frank Francisco earned his 11th save of the season by working a perfect ninth to preserve the 3-2 win.
Game 3 at PNC Park will pit Jonathan Niese (2-2, 4.85 ERA) and Charlie Morton (2-4, 4.35) against each other on the mound at 12:35 p.m. ET.
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