NEW YORK - Ageless Orlando Hernandez baffled Pittsburgh on four hits through seven innings Wednesday night, pitching the New York Mets to a 5-0 victory over the Pirates.
Hernandez, listed as 36 but believed to be older, used his full arsenal, mixing his pitches with his herky-jerky motion and keeping the Pirates off balance as the Mets became the first National League team to win 50 games.
For the veteran right-hander, acquired in a trade with Arizona on May 24 to boost the back end of the Mets' rotation, the effort was reminiscent of a complete game three-hitter he threw against the Diamondbacks on June 8.
The first six pitches he threw missed the strike zone but he recovered quickly and dominated the Pirates, allowing four singles. Hernandez (5-8) walked two and struck out seven before turning the game over to the bullpen for the final two innings to complete the Mets' fifth combined shutout of the season.
The Mets jumped in front against Kip Wells (0-4) getting all four of the hits he allowed in the first inning.
Jose Reyes led off with his major league-leading 12th triple and scored on a single by Paul Lo Duca. After Carlos Beltran walked, Carlos Delgado struck out but Cliff Floyd was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Jose Valentin followed with a two-run double. Floyd scored on a wild pitch and Endy Chavez singled, scoring Valentin.
Wells was making his fourth start of the season following surgery on March 6 in which a vein from his leg was transplanted to replace a blocked artery that was restricting blood flow in his right arm.
In his longest outing since coming back, Wells pitched six innings and threw 99 pitches, 59 for strikes.
It was the second straight victory for the Mets after they had lost six of seven.
Notes:@ RHP Pedro Martinez (sore hip) delayed his throwing session one day. After he throws Thursday, the Mets will decide whether he will start Saturday or go on the disabled list. ... Rickey Henderson was a visitor in the Mets clubhouse. ... The five-run first inning gave the Mets 70 opening-inning runs this season, second only to the Chicago White Sox, who scored four Wednesday night and have 78. ... Well's fifth-inning sacrifice appeared to be foul but was ruled fair by home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt.
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