Bases-loaded hit in 11th lifts Mets past Bucs

David Wright connected over a drawn-in outfield for a 5-4 win.

NEW YORK (AP) — David Wright hit a single over a pulled in outfield with the bases loaded in the 11th inning, giving New York a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday night after the Mets’ bullpen wasted a two-hit performance by Johan Santana.

Endy Chavez singled off John Van Benschoten (0-1), Pittsburgh’s sixth pitcher, leading off the 11th. Van Benschoten, called up Sunday when Matt Morris was released, balked to move Sanchez to second. Marlon Anderson sacrificed, and after Jose Reyes was walked intentionally — he reached in all six plate appearances — Luis Castillo walked.

Wright then hit a fly that just barely landed inside the right-field line, causing a delayed reaction from the players and fans.

Jorge Sosa (3-1), the Mets’ seventh pitcher, worked one inning for the win.

The Pirates tied it in the ninth against Billy Wagner with an assist from Reyes’ throwing error. It was Wagner’s first blown save of the season — his first run, too, albeit unearned.

Pinch-hitter Ryan Doumit led off with a grounder to Reyes, whose throw bounced in the dirt. Pinch-runner Brian Bixler advanced on a wild pitch. He went to third on Chris Gomez’s groundout and scored on Freddy Sanchez’s single to center that fell just beyond the reach of a diving Carlos Beltran.

The Pirates pulled to 4-3 in the eighth when Duaner Sanchez walked in a run — his first in 62‚Ñ3 innings this season.

Working on five days’ rest because Monday’s game between the teams was rained out, Santana went just 52‚Ñ3 innings, his shortest start of the season. He fell behind early for his second straight start and left after walking two and hitting Xavier Nady in the left elbow with a pitch to load the bases in the sixth.

Pedro Feliciano got Adam LaRoche to meekly pop out to short to end the threat in the sixth. Aaron Heilman put runners on first and second in the seventh, but Scott Schoeneweis got out of the jam when he tagged out Jose Bautista at home, as Bautista tried scoring when a pitch got away from catcher Raul Casanova.

The Pirates jumped out 2-0 with two homers, their only hits off Santana.

Nate McLouth hit Santana’s second pitch of the game for his second straight leadoff homer and fourth home run in three games. In the fourth, Jason Bay connected for his fourth game in a row at Shea Stadium. Santana struck out seven and walked three, showing glimpses of his brilliance.

Pirates starter Ian Snell cruised into the fourth, but after walking Beltran with one out Ryan Church hit his third homer of the season over the right-center field fence.