Pittsburgh, PA (Best E Casino) - Johan Santana pitched his second complete game and first shutout of the season as the Mets continued a stretch of road dominance with their sixth straight win, topping Pittsburgh, 4-0 in the third installment of a four-game series from PNC Park.
Santana (11-7) allowed just three hits and no walks while fanning seven. The crafty lefty has allowed three runs or less in each of his last six starts and hasn't lost since a June 28 setback to the crosstown-rival Yankees.
"I'm just doing my job," Santana said. "I was very consistent throwing my fastball in and out over the plate. They hit the ball and put it in play and that made my job very easy."
Brian Schneider knocked in three with a two-run home run and an RBI single, while Carlos Beltran hit a solo shot and scored twice for the Mets, who have won nine of 11 and hold a two-game lead over Philadelphia in the NL East. New York remains a perfect 6-0 on their current seven-game road trip.
The Mets also made an effort to bolster a struggling bullpen Sunday with the acquisition of right-handed reliever Luis Ayala from the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later, which is expected to be infielder Anderson Hernandez. This comes on the heels of sobering news regarding Mets closer Billy Wagner, who will not return to the Mets bullpen Monday as expected. Wagner, recovering from a left forearm strain, threw a simulated game at PNC Park Saturday and experienced stiffness in his left elbow. He will return to New York on Sunday to have the arm further examined.
Jeff Karstens (2-2) dropped his second straight start, allowing four runs on nine hits and one walk while fanning three. The right-hander has pitched well since joining the Pirates as part of a six-player trade with the Yankees. Karstens won his first two starts for the Bucs with 15.0 scoreless innings in those outings against the Chicago Cubs followed by a two-hit shutout at Arizona.
Pittsburgh managed just three hits, including two singles from Jack Wilson, as the club dropped its fifth game in the last six.
"We had to keep battling," Pirates right fielder Jason Michaels said. "He's a big-game pitcher for a reason. He did what he needed to do. We couldn't get anything going."
New York got on the board in the second courtesy of a two-run homer from Schneider. Daniel Murphy drew a lead-off walk before Schneider cranked an 0-2 fastball out to the seats in right.
Schneider again came through in the fourth with a two-out RBI single down the right field line. Beltran hustled home after starting the inning with a single, and gave the Mets a four-run cushion with his 17th home run of the season leading off the sixth.
Game Notes
New York now leads the season series 4-2 while the Mets took four of six matchups last season, including two of three at PNC Park...Monday's series finale will feature starters John Maine (10-7) for New York and Paul Maholm (8-7) for Pittsburgh...The Mets' David Wright received a rare day off Sunday with Damion Easley starting at third. Wright currently holds an 11-game hitting streak...Pirates left fielder Brandon Moss left the game after twisting his left ankle breaking from the batter's box in a seventh-inning at- bat. X-rays take after the game were negative and he will be re-evaluated Monday. Steve Pearce replaced Moss in the lineup.
