Houston, TX (Sports Network) – Ike Davis knocked in the game winning run in the 14th inning with a sacrifice fly as New York outlasted Houston, 3-2, in the third of four meetings at Minute Maid Park.
Elmer Dessens (3-1) earned the win with a scoreless 13th inning during which he allowed two hits, and Manny Acosta closed the door by retiring the side in order in the 14th to earn his first save of the year for the Mets, who have taken two of the first three contests in this four-game set.
Gustavo Chacin (1-2) took the loss after allowing the winning run without giving up a hit for the Astros, who fell for the seventh time in their last eight meetings with New York.
Houston’s Brett Myers yielded two runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four over seven innings and has now lasted at least six innings in a franchise-record 25 consecutive starts to begin the season.
Jose Reyes started the decisive frame with a walk and was bunted to second base by Angel Pagan. The fleet shortstop stole third and remained there when Mike Hessman walked and Carlos Beltran was passed intentionally.
Davis then delivered his scoring fly ball to deep right field to chase home Reyes to break the 2-2 deadlock that was created when Geoff Blum launched a game-tying home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth that chased New York starter R.A. Dickey from the hill. It was the veteran infielder’s first long ball in 189 at-bats, dating back to September 16 of last season at Cincinnati.
“He had his knuckleball working and I think he was throwing it where he wanted to,” Blum said of Dickey. “It was driving me crazy. He got me, but he hung one.”
Dickey was charged with a pair of runs on nine hits while walking one and fanning six over 8 1/3 innings. New York’s starting pitchers have gone seven innings or more in eight of the last nine games.
“He was really good tonight,” Mets manager Jerry Manuel said of Dickey. “He’s given us a chance most of the time he’s taken the ball for us and he’s taken it very deep into the ball game. What that allows us to do is use quality relievers, even late.”
Reyes and Pagan opened the tenth inning against Brandon Lyon with singles and pulled off a double steal with one out forcing the Astros to walk Beltran to load the bases.
Davis then grounded into a force at the plate before Jeff Francoeur lined out to right to end the threat.
The visitors put two runners on against Jeff Fulchino in the 13th, but the rally was squashed when pinch-hitter Henry Blanco struck out.
Ruben Tejada doubled with one out in the seventh and scored the game’s first run when Dickey followed with a double to left. Reyes then singled to center to push Dickey to third, from where he scored on Pagan’s fielder’s choice.
Humberto Quintero and pinch-hitter Jason Michaels started the eighth inning with singles and advanced on a Michael Bourn sacrifice bunt that put runners at second and third. Angel Sanchez looped a single into right field to plate Quintero with Houston’s first run and move Michaels to third.
Hunter Pence fanned for the second out and Carlos Lee grounded out to leave the potential tying run 90 feet away.