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| Danny Moloshok, Post-Gazette Zach Duke -- "It was that one inning ..." Click photo for larger image. |
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"It was that one inning," he said. "All they did was find holes. What are you going to do when the ball is finding holes like that?"
Duke faced the minimum nine New York batters through three innings, struck out three and looked fully in control. Especially in the context of his voluminous early game struggles this year.
But Jose Reyes reached on a soft single, and Chris Woodward beat out an infield chopper to open the fourth. Duke got Carlos Beltran to pop up, only to be annoyed further.
Carlos Delgado's flare landed in front of a sliding Jason Bay in shallow left field to load the bases.
David Wright hit a four-bouncer up the middle to tie the score at 2-2.
Xavier Nady's bloop fell into right for another run.
Finally, Ramon Castro sharply lined a single to left, and the Mets were ahead, 4-2.
"The only ball they hit hard the whole inning," Duke said.
Duke wound up pitching 5 1/3 innings in the 89-degree, humidity-packed heat and was not charged with another run. Six of the eight hits he allowed came in that fourth.
"When that happens, you can't get frustrated," Duke said. "You just have to focus on the pitches. Be committed to the pitch you're about to throw."
"He did a very nice job out there," manager Jim Tracy said. "It was hot out there, and he battled."
Santos pitching tomorrow
Starter Victor Santos is well on his way to rejoining the Pirates.
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"Everything has gone well," general manager Dave Littlefield said.
Santos was placed on the 15-day disabled list June 18 with a shoulder injury and was eligible to come off Saturday.
Glavine off hook
The Pirates' recent offensive surge -- 47 runs in the past six games -- was not halted even by Tom Glavine, winningest pitcher in Major League Baseball. They chased him after five-plus innings, five runs and 11 hits.
"I think we've been playing better lately," Bay said after getting two RBI singles against New York's starter. "It's frustrating because we had the lead late. With Glavine going, we know we're not going to put up a 10 spot. But to get six and then to give it away at the end, that's very frustrating."
Joe Randa took advantage of a rare start and went 3 for 5 with an RBI.
Buried treasure
Bay answered quickly when asked if he might relent on his reluctance to participate in the Home Run Derby now that the Milwaukee Brewers' Carlos Lee has pulled out: "No chance."
New York left fielder Cliff Floyd left the game with a mild concussion in the fifth inning, but he said afterward he could return tonight. His head was struck by Reyes' knee when Reyes caught a Craig Wilson popup 25 feet into the grass.
Tracy will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange this morning.
Delgado, one of the game's most powerful swingers, laughed out loud when asked how many balls might land in the Allegheny River during the Derby: "Ha! Good luck! People don't realize until they try it how far that is."
Pitcher Brad Lincoln, the Pirates' first-round draft pick last month, won the Brooks Wallace Award given to college baseball's best player for his season at the University of Houston. The award is presented annually by the College Baseball Foundation and is voted upon by a panel of coaches, writers, broadcasters, sports information directors and former winners.
