Pirates crush sloppy Mets 13-1 but get scare from LHP Tom Gorzelanny's apparent back pain

The Pittsburgh Pirates took advantage of a sloppy performance by the New York Mets, scoring nine unearned runs in a 13-1 victory Wednesday.

Pirates right fielder Xavier Nady, traded by the Mets for Perez and Roberto Hernandez in 2006, went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

An otherwise enjoyable day for the Pirates was marred by the sight of starter Tom Gorzelanny bent over in pain in the fifth inning with an apparent back problem. The left-hander (2-3), who allowed just one hit and no runs, stayed in to get the final out of the inning and make himself eligible for the win, but did not return.

The Mets had just two hits for the second time in less than a week. Five Atlanta Braves pitchers held them to two hits in a 6-3 loss Friday.

Pittsburgh scored seven runs in the second with a little help from Perez's wildness and two defensive miscues on plays that could have ended the inning.

The Mets starter walked the bases loaded with one out. Gorzelanny hit a slow roller to second, but Castillo dropped the ball as he tried to start a double play and was charged with an error. Perez (2-2) then walked in another run, nearly hitting Nate McLouth on ball four.

After a single and a sacrifice fly drove in two more runs to make it 4-0, Ryan Doumit ripped a hit down the third-base line. But he got caught in a rundown between first and second, the Mets' second chance to escape the inning.

Castillo chased him toward first then threw to Carlos Delgado. When Doumit reversed direction, there was nobody for Delgado to throw to: Reyes wasn't covering second, and Doumit made it there easily.

That knocked Perez out of the game after 55 pitches _ just 28 strikes _ in 1 2-3 innings. He walked five, giving him 14 over his last three starts.

Pittsburgh added five runs _ only one earned _ in the sixth. Third baseman David Wright made an error with two outs, and Angel Pagan misplayed two flyballs in left field _ one for an error.

But by then, the Pirates had Gorzelanny to worry about. With two outs in the fifth, his first pitch to Wright was well outside. Manager John Russell and a trainer quickly came out of the dugout and appeared to be examining his back. After several warmup pitches, Gorzelanny stayed in and got Wright to ground out. Gorzelanny walked slowly off the field, and television cameras showed him wincing in the dugout.

He walked five and struck out four in his five innings.

Notes:@ The start of the game was delayed 40 minutes after construction workers at the Mets' new ballpark broke a water main. ... Mets C Brian Schneider was released from the hospital after six days of treatment for a staph infection in his left thumb. He wasn't sure when he will return. ... A Mets trainer examined CF Carlos Beltran's left hand after a swing in the first inning. His hand did not appear to hit anything. Beltran stayed in the game.

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