advertisement

Cubs rally in ninth, but Mets answer, win 5-4

NEW York — Justin Turner doubled in the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning and the New York Mets beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 on Friday night after blowing a lead moments before.

Turner also had a tiebreaking double in the fifth and finished with three hits. Jason Bay doubled twice and threw out a runner at the plate for New York in the opener of a weekend series that culminates Sunday night with a pregame ceremony to mark the 10-year anniversary of 9/11.

The Mets are offering free tickets to New York City first responders and their families for that game.

Earlier on Friday, several current and former Mets visited New York City firehouses — from David Wright and Bobby Parnell to Mike Piazza, Edgardo Alfonzo, Robin Ventura and John Olerud.

Wright and Bay each had an RBI to help the Mets overcome an early deficit for their 11th victory in 16 games. Mike Pelfrey recovered from a rocky start as New York evened the all-time series against the Cubs at 345-345 with two ties.

Late in a lost season, the Mets are trying to groom a potential closer for the future. Parnell has failed to grab hold of the role, however, and Manny Acosta (3-1) couldn't put this one away.

Acosta, who saved a 1-0 win Wednesday at Florida, walked Geovany Soto with one out in the ninth. One out later, Starlin Castro looped a broken-bat single to left on an 0-2 pitch and new father Darwin Barney singled up the middle to tie it at 4.

Aramis Ramirez flied out to end the inning, and New York responded right away.

Nick Evans singled off Sean Marshall (6-6) to open the bottom half and pinch-runner Jason Pridie advanced on Josh Thole's sacrifice. After pinch-hitter Ruben Tejada hit a soft liner for an out, Jose Reyes was intentionally walked.

Turner hit a long drive to center over the head of Marlon Byrd, who was playing shallow against the rookie. The ball bounced on the warning track and over the fence — it was initially ruled a single, then changed to a ground-rule double.

Turner touched second and was mobbed by excited teammates. Then he was pelted in the face with a cream pie during a TV interview on the field.

Carlos Pena extended his power surge with a long two-run homer for Chicago, which has lost 12 of 18. Bryan LaHair had an RBI triple before he was thrown out by Bay at the plate on pitcher Casey Coleman's fly to left.

Reyes, trying to hold off Milwaukee's Ryan Braun for the NL batting title, blooped a ground-rule double in the fifth and scored on Turner's soft double to put the Mets up 4-3. Reyes has hit safely in all 12 games since returning from the disabled list.

Pelfrey caught a break in the seventh when pinch-hitter Blake DeWitt hit a one-out grounder that appeared headed into right field for a single that could have put runners at the corners. But the ball bounced up and hit pinch-runner Tony Campana for the second out.

After Castro was hit by a pitch, Josh Stinson retired Barney on a fly ball to end the inning.

Pelfrey loaded the bases with one out in the first, prompting a visit from pitching coach Dan Warthen. The big right-hander then struck out Alfonso Soriano and got Byrd on a liner to shortstop to escape unscathed after 29 pitches.

Pena homered in the third, his fourth in eight games — including a three-run shot in the eighth inning to beat Cincinnati on Wednesday. Pelfrey had gone a season-high seven straight starts without allowing a home run.

The Cubs appeared ready to break it open in the fourth when LaHair tripled home a run with nobody out to make it 3-0. But with the infield in, Wright made a tough grab on Geovany Soto's liner and then Coleman lofted a fly to medium left.

Bay made a wide throw to the plate but it was good enough to get the lumbering LaHair. Cubs manager Mike Quade came out to argue the call.

Turner's leadoff single and an RBI double by Bay keyed New York's three-run fourth.

NOTES: Mets ace Johan Santana, sidelined all season following shoulder surgery, tossed three innings in a rehab start with Class-A Savannah in a South Atlantic League playoff game. He gave up two hits and an unearned run, with one walk and one strikeout. The left-hander threw 39 pitches, 27 for strikes. Next, the Mets hope Santana recovers well enough to pitch again in five days — either in another minor league playoff game or a simulated or instructional league game. “I'm not looking for results. I'm not looking for velocity,” manager Terry Collins said. “I'm looking to see how he comes out of this tomorrow.” ... Barney rejoined the team in time for batting practice. He flew in from Oregon following the birth Wednesday of his daughter, Zoey Jane Leilani. ... RHP Randy Wells (7-4) tries to extend his career-best five-game winning streak when he starts Saturday for Chicago against LHP Chris Capuano (10-12), who is 8-3 against the Cubs. ... This is the Cubs' first visit to Citi Field since April 2010. ... New York recalled RHP Dale Thayer from Triple-A Buffalo. ... Coleman, a third generation big league pitcher with a funky delivery, hasn't won in the majors since May 19 at Florida.