Piratesdaily.com | Pittsburgh Pirates News, pirates Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>NEW YORK -- Carlos Beltran's RBI single and Carlos Delgado's three-run homer ignited a five-run eighth inning Friday, boosting the New York Mets to a 7-3 victory over the Pirates . </div>Reyes began the winning rally with a single to left against Tyler Yates (0-2). Luis Castillo intended to bunt Reyes along, but he instead walked on four pitches. Beltran singled down the third-base line, scoring Reyes to send the Pirates to their sixth consecutive loss. It was Beltran's only hit on an otherwise frustrating night. In the first, he popped out with two runners on base. In the third, he lined into a double play when first baseman Adam LaRoche made a fine catch. Sean Burnett relieved Yates, and Delgado smacked a 1-1 pitch over the center-field wall for a three-run homer. It was Delgado's first homer since April 16. Combined with a two-run single in the first inning, he finished with five RBI. With one out, Daniel Murphy doubled to right. He went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Omir Santos' single. Bobby Parnell (1-0) tossed one scoreless inning for the win. Neither starter figured in the decision, though each pitched well and put up similar numbers. The Pirates' Jeff Karstens was much more effective than in his past start, when he gave up five runs in five innings against Cincinnati. Last night, the right-hander went six innings and allowed two runs and seven hits while striking out three. The Mets took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Reyes and Castillo each singled and stole second base, and Delgado lined a two-run single to right. Mets lefty Jonathan Niese also went six innings and gave up two runs and seven hits, striking out five. Niese is one of the Mets' top prospects, but he failed to win a rotation spot in spring training. He was awful at Triple-A Buffalo -- 0-2 with a 6.55 ERA in five starts -- but he was called up when Oliver Perez went on the disabled list. Last season, Niese had a bumpy three-game tryout in the majors and went 1-1 with a 7.07 ERA. He was hammered by the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs, but he tossed eight scoreless innings against Atlanta. Niese held the lead until the third, when the Pirates capitalized on the Mets' shoddy defense. Brian Bixler led off with a single to short which was too hot for Reyes to handle. After Karstens' sacrifice bunt, Nyjer Morgan lined a run-scoring single to center. With two outs, Nate McLouth hit a lazy pop-up. Right fielder Ryan Church wandered over, then yielded to center fielder Beltran. However, Beltran over-ran the ball, which fell untouched for an RBI double. The Pirates ran themselves out of a scoring chance in the first inning, when Morgan over-slid second base on a steal attempt. Morgan began the inning with an infield single. With one out, he got a great jump off first against Niese. The pitch to lefty hitter McLouth was outside, so catcher Omir Santos had to reach for the ball. Morgan easily beat the throw, he but skidded over the second base bag. Luis Castillo turned and tagged Morgan on the leg. Then, McLouth singled to left. Had he been on second, Morgan would have scored easily. A scoring opportunity was squandered in the sixth, as Adam and Andy LaRoche hit back-to-back singles with one out. Brandon Moss struck out swinging at a high, full-count fastball. And Robinzon Diaz hit a slicing fly ball to left, which Murphy caught on the run. How they scored ??? Mets first inning (Jeff Karstens pitching) Jose Reyes singled to center. Reyes stole second base. Luis Castillo singled to pitcher, Reyes to third. Castillo stole second base. With one out, Carlos Delgado singled to right, Reyes and Castillo scored. Mets 2, Pirates 0 ??? Pirates third (Jonathan Niese pitching) Brian Bixler singled to shortstop. Karstens bunted out to pitcher, sacrifice; Bixler to second. Nyjer Morgan singled to center, Bixler scored. With two outs, Nate McLouth doubled to center, Morgan scored. Pirates 2, Mets 2 ??? Mets eighth inning (Tyler Yates pitching) Reyes singled to left. Castillo walked, Reyes to second. Carlos Beltran singled to left, Reyes scored, Castillo to second. (Sean Burnett pitching) Delgado hit a three-run homer (No. 4) to center on a 1-1 pitch. With one out, Daniel Murphy doubled to right. Wild pitch, Murphy to third. Omir Santos singled to right, Murphy scored. Mets 7, Pirates 2 ??? Pirates ninth (J.J. Putz pitching) With two outs, Eric Hinske (pinch-hitting for Donnie Veal) walked. Nyjer Morgan walked, Hinske to second. Freddy Sanchez singled to center, Hinske scored, Morgan to third. Mets 7, Pirates 3

NEW YORK -- Carlos Beltran's RBI single and Carlos Delgado's three-run homer ignited a five-run eighth inning Friday, boosting the New York Mets to a 7-3 victory over the Pirates .

Reyes began the winning rally with a single to left against Tyler Yates (0-2). Luis Castillo intended to bunt Reyes along, but he instead walked on four pitches.

Beltran singled down the third-base line, scoring Reyes to send the Pirates to their sixth consecutive loss.

It was Beltran's only hit on an otherwise frustrating night. In the first, he popped out with two runners on base. In the third, he lined into a double play when first baseman Adam LaRoche made a fine catch.

Sean Burnett relieved Yates, and Delgado smacked a 1-1 pitch over the center-field wall for a three-run homer.

It was Delgado's first homer since April 16. Combined with a two-run single in the first inning, he finished with five RBI.

With one out, Daniel Murphy doubled to right. He went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Omir Santos' single.

Bobby Parnell (1-0) tossed one scoreless inning for the win.

Neither starter figured in the decision, though each pitched well and put up similar numbers.

The Pirates' Jeff Karstens was much more effective than in his past start, when he gave up five runs in five innings against Cincinnati. Last night, the right-hander went six innings and allowed two runs and seven hits while striking out three.

The Mets took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Reyes and Castillo each singled and stole second base, and Delgado lined a two-run single to right.

Mets lefty Jonathan Niese also went six innings and gave up two runs and seven hits, striking out five.

Niese is one of the Mets' top prospects, but he failed to win a rotation spot in spring training. He was awful at Triple-A Buffalo -- 0-2 with a 6.55 ERA in five starts -- but he was called up when Oliver Perez went on the disabled list.

Last season, Niese had a bumpy three-game tryout in the majors and went 1-1 with a 7.07 ERA. He was hammered by the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs, but he tossed eight scoreless innings against Atlanta.

Niese held the lead until the third, when the Pirates capitalized on the Mets' shoddy defense.

Brian Bixler led off with a single to short which was too hot for Reyes to handle. After Karstens' sacrifice bunt, Nyjer Morgan lined a run-scoring single to center.

With two outs, Nate McLouth hit a lazy pop-up. Right fielder Ryan Church wandered over, then yielded to center fielder Beltran. However, Beltran over-ran the ball, which fell untouched for an RBI double.

The Pirates ran themselves out of a scoring chance in the first inning, when Morgan over-slid second base on a steal attempt.

Morgan began the inning with an infield single. With one out, he got a great jump off first against Niese. The pitch to lefty hitter McLouth was outside, so catcher Omir Santos had to reach for the ball.

Morgan easily beat the throw, he but skidded over the second base bag. Luis Castillo turned and tagged Morgan on the leg.

Then, McLouth singled to left. Had he been on second, Morgan would have scored easily.

A scoring opportunity was squandered in the sixth, as Adam and Andy LaRoche hit back-to-back singles with one out. Brandon Moss struck out swinging at a high, full-count fastball. And Robinzon Diaz hit a slicing fly ball to left, which Murphy caught on the run.

How they scored

??? Mets first inning (Jeff Karstens pitching)

Jose Reyes singled to center. Reyes stole second base. Luis Castillo singled to pitcher, Reyes to third. Castillo stole second base. With one out, Carlos Delgado singled to right, Reyes and Castillo scored.

Mets 2, Pirates 0

??? Pirates third (Jonathan Niese pitching)

Brian Bixler singled to shortstop. Karstens bunted out to pitcher, sacrifice; Bixler to second. Nyjer Morgan singled to center, Bixler scored. With two outs, Nate McLouth doubled to center, Morgan scored.

Pirates 2, Mets 2

??? Mets eighth inning (Tyler Yates pitching)

Reyes singled to left. Castillo walked, Reyes to second. Carlos Beltran singled to left, Reyes scored, Castillo to second. (Sean Burnett pitching) Delgado hit a three-run homer (No. 4) to center on a 1-1 pitch. With one out, Daniel Murphy doubled to right. Wild pitch, Murphy to third. Omir Santos singled to right, Murphy scored.

Mets 7, Pirates 2

??? Pirates ninth (J.J. Putz pitching)

With two outs, Eric Hinske (pinch-hitting for Donnie Veal) walked. Nyjer Morgan walked, Hinske to second. Freddy Sanchez singled to center, Hinske scored, Morgan to third.

Mets 7, Pirates 3