DILLON IN CONCERT: Dillon Gee spared a worn-out bullpen on a muggy day in Pittsburgh, pitching into the seventh inning as the Mets beat the Pirates, 4-2, to finish the first half with a record of 41-50. (UPI)
PITTSBURGH — The heat was on.
Not only did Dillon Gee face stifling humidity yesterday at PNC Park, but given the exhausted state of the Mets bullpen, working at least into the seventh inning seemed paramount for the right-hander.
In a performance that mirrored some of his best over the last six weeks, Gee went 6 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run in a 4-2 victory over the Pirates that allowed the Mets to avoid getting swept three games heading into the All-Star break.
“The mound was rock-hard because the sun was drying it out, but I felt pretty good,” said Gee, who was bothered by blisters on his feet as the game progressed.
The Mets (41-50) could appreciate finishing 6-3 on a road trip that also included stops in Milwaukee and San Francisco. In the month heading into the break they were 17-11, with 13 of those victories coming on the road.
When they return to action on Friday, the Mets will have a steady diet of NL East opponents awaiting them, with the Phillies, Braves, Nationals and Marlins lined up over two weeks. If the Mets are going to make a move from fourth place in the division, that would probably be the opportunity.
“We had a nice month after a couple of pretty bad months,” David Wright said. “It’s nice that we’re kind of progressively getting better, so hopefully the best is yet to come.”
Gee (7-7) allowed an unearned run on five hits and one walk. It was his fifth start since May 30 of allowing one earned run or fewer. He is 5-1 with a 2.67 ERA over that stretch, helping anchor a rotation that has received big contributions from ace Matt Harvey and Jeremy Hefner.
Daniel Murphy provided Gee and the bullpen with a cushion by smashing an RBI triple in the seventh that extended the Mets’ lead to 4-1. Gee was removed with two outs in the bottom of the inning with two runners on base. Scott Atchison, activated from the disabled list before the game, struck out Starling Marte to end the threat. It came with David Aardsma, Josh Edgin and Greg Burke, among others, on fumes after extended use in recent days.
The Pirates got a run against LaTroy Hawkins in the eighth before Bobby Parnell retired Jordy Mercer with two runners on base in the ninth for his 17th save in 20 chances.
“We needed to get innings and deep into the game, and [Gee] gave us that,” manager Terry Collins said. “He was exhausted, his foot was bothering him, but he gave us everything we needed today and we got a nice job by the relievers.
“We had a tremendous finish in this month, and we’ve just got to take our break, get some energy back from all the innings we’ve played and get ready for Friday.”
The extra work by the Mets included an 11-inning loss to the Pirates on Friday after beating the Giants in 16 innings on Monday.
Marte’s RBI double in the third accounted for the Pirates’ only run against Gee. Pitcher Gerrit Cole bunted for a hit and reached second when Gee made a wild desperation throw to first.
John Buck’s two-run single was the Mets’ big hit in the first inning, when they jumped to a 3-0 lead against the rookie Cole. Marlon Byrd delivered an RBI double in the inning before Buck extended his hitting streak to six games with a single to left. Eric Young Jr. and Wright also singled in the inning.
“Stuff-wise it probably wasn’t the best day,” Gee said. “But I just tried to throw strikes, especially after the guys went out there and got the early lead, set the tone in the first inning against a good pitcher.”