Delgado powers Pelfrey's 2nd straight CG for Mets

[August 26, 2008]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Carlos Delgado hit a pair of three-run homers and Mike Pelfrey pitched his second straight complete game, leading the New York Mets over the Houston Astros 9-1 Monday night.

Jose Reyes also had a big night at the plate, and Pelfrey came within two outs of his first major league shutout. The six-hitter followed his first career complete game, when he allowed three hits in a 6-3 victory over Atlanta last Wednesday.

With a crowd of 49,791 chanting his name, Pelfrey (13-8) became the first Mets pitcher with consecutive complete-game wins since Bret Saberhagen in 1995.

After splitting a four-game series with the Astros, New York now heads to Philadelphia for a two-game set between the top teams in the NL East. The first-place Mets, who lead the Phillies by a half-game, continue the road trip at Florida and Milwaukee, both playoff contenders.

If the Mets are going to come out of this difficult stretch atop the division, they'll have to do it without starter John Maine. He'll be out at least three weeks with a bone spur in his right shoulder.

Delgado's homer in the first off Brian Moehler (9-5) barely creeped over the wall in the left-field corner, but his drive off Wesley Wright in the seventh was sent emphatically over the 410-foot sign in center field.

And, unlike earlier this season when he refused a curtain call, Delgado acknowledged the rollicking fans by climbing onto the top step of the dugout and tipping his helmet. It was Delgado's 46th multihomer game, fourth this year.

Hours after Maine was put on the disabled list and Mets general manager Omar Minaya said others will have to "step up," Pelfrey did just that, striking out six without walking a batter. He threw 108 pitches for the second outing in a row.

There was talk that the Mets would give the 24-year-old right-hander extra rest in the next couple of weeks when the Mets have two days off, but manager Jerry Manuel nixed that idea.

"We are in a fight for our lives," Manuel said.

Pelfrey gave up hits to the leadoff batter in the second, fourth and eighth innings but got double-play grounders from the next batter to quickly quash each potential rally. In the fifth, he gave up a one-out double to Geoff Blum but induced a groundout from Hunter Pence and struck out Michael Bourn.

He got another double play in the eighth after allowing Blum's second hit.

Pelfrey walked in the eighth and scored from first -- standing up -- on Reyes' two-run triple to make it 9-0. Reyes also doubled, scored twice and finished with three hits.

Pelfrey yielded a double and single in the ninth, putting runners at the corners. Ty Wigginton's RBI groundout broke up the shutout bid.

Mets second baseman Luis Castillo, who had been out with a strained hip flexor since July 3, returned from the DL and went 0-for-4 with a walk. He also made a diving grab of a liner by Humberto Quintero in the third.

Moehler lost for the first time since July 4 against Atlanta, a span of nine starts. He gave up four runs in 5 1-3 innings.

Notes: The Mets have gone over 4 million tickets sold for the first time. This is their last season at Shea Stadium, which holds about 57,365. Their new home, Citi Field, will have room for about 12,000 less.

[Associated Press; By HOWIE RUMBERG]

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