Mets’ Martinez defeats Bucs

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pedro Martinez pitched seven innings for the first time this season, and Jose Reyes and Ramon Castro homered to lead the surging New York Mets past the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-4 Saturday night.

Reyes and Castro each finished with two hits and two RBIs for the Mets, who have won five straight and nine of 12. New York, which is a season-best 11 games over .500, entered the day leading the NL East by one game over Philadelphia.

Pedro Feliciano earned his second save, retiring the final two hitters with two runners on after Pittsburgh scored three times in the ninth against rusty rookie Eddie Kunz, who hadn’t pitched since Sunday.

Before the game, New York got disappointing news regarding its shaky bullpen when injured closer Billy Wagner felt discomfort in his pitching elbow following a simulated game.