NATIONAL LEAGUE Solid pitching lifts Bucs past Mets

Jason Kendall drove in the game-winner for Pittsburgh in the eighth.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Managers hate second-guessers, but there was a moment Saturday when Pittsburgh manager Lloyd McClendon did that to himself.
McClendon had massaged starting pitcher Oliver Perez through six innings, sitting on a 1-0 lead against the New York Mets. Perez had allowed just two hits but was in uncharted territory when McClendon sent him out for the seventh.
"I went against the grain," the manager said. "I should have taken him out after six. I kicked myself because I put him position to lose that game. I shouldn't have done that."
Perez got through the first two batters, then walked Mike Piazza and Mike Cameron. And when Ty Wigginton followed with a two-strike single against reliever Brian Meadows, the game was tied.
Meadows got the last out and then got credit for the win when Tike Redman doubled leading off the eighth and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jason Kendall for a 2-1 Pirates' victory.
"He made some good pitches," Kendall said of Perez. "You wanted a game like this."
Perez came away with a no decision but the only left-hander in the Pittsburgh rotation had to be pleased with his performance. He retired 14 of his first 15 batters, allowed just two hits and struck out six.
"The big thing is I was working the way I want," he said. "I was taking it man to man, out to out. In the seventh, little things happened. I fell behind and that led to the walks."
And the walks led to New York's tying run.
Taking the lead
An inning later, the Pirates were back in front after Redman ripped a shot past first base and into the right-field corner against Steve Trachsel (1-2). Jack Wilson sacrificed and Kendall drove in the run with a fly ball to center as Redman beat Cameron's throw to the plate.
The Mets tried to come back in the bottom half. Vance Wilson opened with his second hit and advanced on a sacrifice by pinch-hitter Jeff Duncan. But relievers Mike Johnson and Solomon Torres retired the next two hitters. Jose Mesa pitched the ninth for his fifth save. He has not allowed a runner in those five games.
Vance Wilson remembered the Mets having better success against Perez a year ago. Pitching for San Diego, the left-hander gave up five runs in seven innings that day.
"He's a little smoother this year," Wilson said. "He's made some adjustments so it's like facing a different pitcher."
Rookie Jose Castillo hit his first major league home run for the Pirates, connecting on the first pitch he saw from Trachsel in the fifth inning.
Good pitching
In the sixth, Perez allowed a leadoff single to Karim Garcia, who advanced on a balk. But Perez struck out the next three batters, stranding the potential tying run at second.
"The kid's got great stuff," McClendon said. "He's a great competitor. He'll have ups and downs. Today was an up day."
Trachsel was in frequent trouble. The Mets turned double plays in the first two innings and the Pirates wasted a leadoff double by Craig Wilson in the third. Kendall and Rob Mackowiak singled in the fifth but Shane Spencer saved two runs with a sprawling catch in left field to end the inning.
Craig Wilson, who had three hits, doubled again in the seventh but Trachsel retired Castillo and Perez to end the inning. Trachsel struck out five and walked one in eight innings.
PITTSBURGHNEW YORK
abrhbiabrhbi
TRdmn cf4120Matsui ss4000
JWilsn ss3000Gterrez 2b3000
Kendall c3011Valent ph1000
Mndesi rf4000Looper p0000
Mckwk 3b3020Spncer lf4000
Simon 1b4000Piazza 1b3100
JDavis pr0000Cmeron cf3000
Mesa p0000Wggntn 3b3011
CWilsn lf4030KGarca rf3010
Castillo 2b4111VWilsn c3020
OlPrez p3010Trchsel p2000
Mdows p0000Duncan ph0000
Jhnston p0000McEwg 2b0000
STorres p0000
Stynes 3b0000
Totals322102Totals29141
Pittsburgh000010010--2
New York000000100--1
DP--New York 3. LOB--Pittsburgh 6, New York 4. 2B--TRedman (2), CWilson 2 (6). HR--Castillo (1). S--JWilson, Duncan. SF--Kendall.
IPHRERBBSO
Pittsburgh
OlPerez6 2-321126
Meadows W,1-02-320001
Johnston1-300000
STorres1-300001
Mesa S,5100001
New York
Trachsel L,1-2882215
Looper120000
Balk--OlPerez. Umpires--Home, Joe Brinkman; First, Tim Tschida; Second, Jeff Nelson; Third, Marty Foster. T--2:38. A--40,172.
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