Wright Ties Kranepool's Franchise Hit Mark During Mets' Loss To Pirates
Updated at 12:14 a.m., Sept. 26, 2012
NEW YORK (AP) -- David Wright hopes to give the fans at Citi Field one more reason to cheer this season.
Wright lined his 20th homer and added a two-run single Tuesday night, tying the Mets' career hits record during a 10-6 loss to Pittsburgh that ended New York's four-game winning string.
Wright's accomplishment was shown on the scoreboard after he singled in the seventh inning to match the team mark of 1,418 hits set by Ed Kranepool.
"I'm not comfortable talking about something individual like this when we've had our struggles in the second half, not having done what all of us thought we were capable of doing," Wright said. "But I'll enjoy it at some point. Probably not tonight."
Perhaps he'll celebrate Wednesday or Thursday, when the Mets play their final two home games this year.
"It's good to get hits anywhere, but it would be more special to do it here, more memorable," he said. "But regardless of the fact, you never think you'll make it to the big leagues, much less these many hits, so I'm proud of that."
Mets manager Terry Collins saluted Wright's achievement.
"He truly is a great player," he said. "This guy holds records now in so many departments in the organization."
Justin Turner and Wright connected in the first inning for the team's first set of consecutive home runs this season.
Pedro Alvarez hit his 30th homer and drove in four runs, leading Wandy Rodriguez and the Pirates.
Pittsburgh avoided elimination in the playoff race, remaining mathematically in contention for the second NL wild-card spot. The Pirates posted their 76th victory, the team's most since 1999 when they won 78.
Alvarez hit a three-run shot that made it 4-0 in the first inning. It was his first pro homer in the city where he was a prep star. He had a big rooting section and among his biggest fans is his sister, who previously worked for the Mets.
"Every time I looked up, I saw someone else," he said.
Alvarez drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth, helping the Pirates win for just the sixth time in 24 games. Tied for the NL Central lead a week after the All-Star game, Pittsburgh (76-78) has faded to seventh place in the wild-card standings and is trying to avoid a 20th straight losing season.
Garrett Jones hit his 25th homer and drove in three runs for the Pirates.
Rodriguez (12-13) recovered from rocky first and left in the seventh with a 7-3 lead. He improved to 5-4 since being traded from Houston to Pittsburgh in late July.
Pirates star Andrew McCutchen went 1 for 3 with two walks and is hitting .336. He is only behind San Francisco's Melky Cabrera, who is at .346 but has taken himself out of consideration for the batting title after being suspended for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
Collin McHugh (0-3) was pulled soon after Josh Harrison's two-run triple in the second. Harrison later scored on an error by Turner at second base.
"It was a prolifically good first outing and a prolifically bad four outings after that," McHugh said. "I'm not going to sugarcoat that."
"You like to go out on a high note, pitching well going into the offseason. But no matter what happens, October 4th, next season starts for all of us," he said.
Turner was involved in a play in the third that prompted arguments from both managers. He reached on a throwing error by Harrison from second base, made a brief turn toward second and casually returned to first. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle contended first baseman Gaby Sanchez tagged Turner before he got back to first and, after all four umpires huddled, they agreed and called him out. Collins then disputed the call with three umps, to no avail.
NOTES: Mets LHP Robert Carson left after one batter in the seventh with a strained left elbow. X-rays were negative and he will have an MRI on Wednesday. Before the game, he wore a batting practice jersey with "Pookie-Nookie" on the back -- his mom's nickname for him. ... Mets OF Jason Bay was out of the lineup because of back stiffness. ... Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will try for his 20th win Thursday afternoon vs. Pittsburgh. Collins says Dickey will make his final start next week at Miami on either the last day of the season or next-to-last day.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
