Tejada’s walk-off gives Mets a win
NEW YORK — Ruben Tejada singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Mets a 3-2 victory over Miami on Sunday, their seventh straight against the Marlins.
Scott Hairston led off the inning with a single, took second on a passed ball by Rob Brantly, and was safe at third when pinch-hitter Jordany Valdespin beat the throw on what would have been an inning-ending double play. Instead, pinchhitter Fred Lewis was intentionally walked after Valdespin was allowed to take second.
Tejada lined a pitch from right-hander Ryan Webb (43) into shallow left field and sprinted toward first with his finger in the air as the rest of the Mets poured out of the dugout.
David Wright hit a tworun homer in the first and Bobby Parnell (5-4) pitched the top of the ninth for the win.
Mets starter Chris Young had another nice start at home, but he still hasn’t won a game at Citi Field this season.
On Sunday, he allowed one earned run in six innings, but a throwing error by catcher Kelly Shoppach allowed the tying run to score. Young struck out five and walked two.
The Mets are 3 1-2 games ahead of the Marlins out of last place in the NL East. The Mets are 11-4 against the Marlins this season. Miami starter Ricky Nolasco struck out five in seven innings, allowing five hits and two runs.
In Nolasco’s previous four starts, he was 3-0 with four earned runs and 20 strikeouts against one walk in 30 innings.
Young has been a brighter spot than his record would indicate. In 11 of his 19 starts, he’s allowed two or fewer earned runs, but is 4-3 with four no-decisions. He has struck out more than two batters for every one he’s walked and worked his way into a spot as a reliable starter heading into next season.