Mets too much for Bucs, Correia in late innings

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Kevin Correia was perfect into the fifth inning. Late in the game, he and the rest of the Pittsburgh Pirates were anything but.

Chris Capuano pitched seven innings, Jose Reyes had three hits and a homer and the New York Mets scored all their runs over the final three innings in beating the Pirates 7-0 on Sunday afternoon.

Correia (8-5) retired the first 14 batters he faced but ultimately was charged with four runs on seven hits in 72/3 innings in missing on a chance to tie for the majors’ lead in victories.

“I don’t think I’ve seen anybody more efficient all year than Kevin, especially through the fifth,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. “It was an excellent outing. Actually, both those guys were excellent. They both hit their spots.”

Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen had two hits, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. The Pirates again failed in a chance to reach .500 in June for the first time since 2005.

The Mets scored one in the seventh and four — all after two outs — in the eighth.

“I felt I had a really good outing until two outs in the eighth inning,” Correia said. “I just couldn’t get that last out, and that was disappointing.”

Former Pirate Jason Bay hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh — though Pittsburgh doubled off Angel Pagan because he didn’t step on second on his way back to first, causing some confusion.

The Mets made any potential controversy moot with the help of six consecutive two-out hits in the eighth.

Correia gave up a single to pinch-hitter Willie Harris. Reyes singled and Justin Turner hit an RBI double before Beltran’s two-run single off of Chris Resop. Daniel Moskos came on, and Murphy and Pagan singled. The latter hit drove in pinch-runner Jason Pridie.

“Early on, he was very tough, but for us to stick with it and give good at bats one right after another, that’s what kept us in the ballgame,” the Mets’ Scott Hairston said. “Chris Capuano as well. Once we scored a couple runs, we kept adding and piling on. That’s what good teams do.”