David Wright hits single in 11th inning to give Mets 5-4 win over Pirates

Endy Chavez singled off John Van Benschoten (0-1), Pittsburgh's sixth pitcher, leading off the 11th. Van Benschoten, called up Sunday when Matt Morris was released, balked to move Sanchez to second. Marlon Anderson sacrificed, and after Jose Reyes was walked intentionally _ he reached in all six plate appearances _ Luis Castillo walked.

Wright then hit a fly that just barely landed inside the right-field line, causing a delayed reaction from the players and fans.

Jorge Sosa (3-1), the Mets' seventh pitcher, worked one inning for the win.

The Pirates tied it in the ninth against Billy Wagner with an assist from Reyes' throwing error. It was Wagner's first blown save of the season _ his first run, too, albeit unearned.

Pinch-hitter Ryan Doumit led off with a grounder to Reyes, whose throw bounced in the dirt. Pinch-runner Brian Bixler advanced on a wild pitch. He went to third on Chris Gomez's groundout and scored on Freddy Sanchez's single to center that fell just beyond the reach of a diving Carlos Beltran.

The Pirates pulled to 4-3 in the eighth when Duaner Sanchez walked in a run _ his first in 6 2-3 innings this season.

Working on five days' rest because Monday's game between the teams was rained out, Santana went just 5 2-3 innings, his shortest start of the season. He fell behind early for his second straight start and left after walking two and hitting Xavier Nady in the left elbow with a pitch to load the bases in the sixth.

Pedro Feliciano got Adam LaRoche to meekly pop out to short to end the threat in the sixth. Aaron Heilman put runners on first and second in the seventh, but Scott Schoeneweis got out of the jam when he tagged out Jose Bautista at home, as Bautista tried scoring when a pitch got away from catcher Raul Casanova.

The Pirates jumped out 2-0 with two homers, their only hits off Santana.

Nate McLouth hit Santana's second pitch of the game for his second straight leadoff homer and fourth home run in three games. In the fourth, Jason Bay connected for his fourth game in a row at Shea Stadium. Santana struck out seven and walked three, showing glimpses of his brilliance.

Santana has given up seven home runs in six starts after allowing an AL-leading 33 for Minnesota last season.

Pirates starter Ian Snell cruised into the fourth, but after walking Beltran with one out Ryan Church hit his third homer of the season over the right-center field fence.

Chavez, hitting just .160 coming in, singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth and raised his hands palms up as if saying "I don't know how I did it" while running down the first-base line. He scored an out later on Reyes' triple off the wall in right-center.

After Castillo walked, Wright hit a potential double-play grounder to short. Second baseman Freddy Sanchez couldn't handle the throw, and Reyes scored on the error to make it 4-2.

Snell then walked Beltran to load the bases and was done. Damaso Marte relieved and struck out Church on a 3-2 pitch on the outside corner that caused Church to leap in the air and shout at plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt. Carlos Delgado struck out and heard his first chorus of boos since he didn't come out for a curtain call Sunday.

Snell walked five in 4 1-3 innings. He allowed four runs and five hits, and struck out two.

Notes:@ Sanchez's error was the Pirates NL-leading 29th. ... Mets catcher Brian Schneinder ramined hospitalized with a thumb infection. General manager Omar Minaya said the catcher could be released as early as tomorrow. ... Mets LF Moises Alou was cleared to play after an MRI of his left ankle showed no damage. The oft-injured 41-year-old could be activated Friday.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.