Connor Jackson's 9th-inning error paves way for Mets' 5-2 victory over Diamondbacks
By BOB BAUM | Associated Press | May 4, 08 6:47 PM CDT in
Sports
First baseman Conor Jackson's ninth inning throwing error allowed Carlos Beltran to score the go-ahead run from second and the New York Mets went on to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-2 on Sunday.
The Mets won at Arizona for the 15th time in 17 tries and handed the Diamondbacks' just their second series loss of the season. The only other series Arizona lost was its season-opening three-game set at Cincinnati.
David Wright had a solo home run for the Mets.
With the score tied at 2 in the ninth, Beltran and Moises Alou singled off reliever Chad Qualls. Carlos Delgado grounded to Jackson, who overthrew shortstop Augie Ojeda to allow Beltran to score.
New York went on to load the bases and get an RBI single by pinch hitter Marlon Anderson and an RBI sacrifice fly by Jose Reyes.
Qualls (0-2) gave up three runs, one earned, in one inning. Jorge Sosa (4-1) pitched 2-3 of an inning to get the victory. Billy Wagner threw a perfect ninth for his seventh save in eight tries.
Arizona's Mark Reynolds broke out of a 1-for-21 slump with a pair of bloop singles, the second bringing home the tying run in the seventh.
Johan Santana and Dan Haren, a pair of transplanted American League standouts, dueled through six innings, with the Mets leading 2-1 on Wright's leadoff home run in the fourth.
Joe Smith relieved Santana and got two quick outs in the seventh, but Jackson singled, then Justin Upton walked.
Reynolds blooped a broken-bat single to left to bring home Jackson and tie it a 2-2.
Santana allowed a run and six hits, striking out eight and walking four. Haren allowed two runs and only three hits. He struck out seven and walked one.
Reyes' two-out single, the first hit off Haren of the game, brought home Luis Castillo to put the Mets up 1-0 in the third.
New York made it 2-0 when Wright, leading off the fourth, hit Haren's 2-0 pitch deep into the left field seats, his sixth homer and 26th RBI of the season.
Arizona broke through with a run in the fourth. Upton singled, then scored when Chris Snyder lined one off the top of the bullpen fence in left, just inches shy of a home run, for his first career triple.
Arizona's Chris Burke laid down a bunt start the eighth. Pitcher Pedro Feliciano fielded it, but threw wildly past first. Burke took second, but was thrown out trying to take third by right fielder Ryan Church.
Notes:@ Santana has allowed two earned runs in 22 innings against the Diamondbacks, including a complete game shutout at Arizona in 2005. ... Diamondbacks LF Eric Byrnes went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts to fall to 2-for-24 on the homestand. ... Diamondbacks pitcher Micah Owings had a pinch-hit infield single in the ninth.
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