Davis' sacrifice in 14th lifts Mets over Astros

HOUSTON - Mets manager Jerry Manuel let R.A. Dickey hit in a big spot against the Astros on Wednesday night. It worked out well when the knuckleballer hit a go-ahead double in the seventh inning.

Then Manuel let Dickey try to protect a one-run lead in the ninth inning. That didn't work out so well.

With new closer Hisanori Takahashi ready in the bullpen, Dickey allowed a one-out, game-tying home run to Geoff Blum. It was Blum's first home run in 189 at-bats and finished Dickey's night after 119 pitches.

Then extra innings settled into Minute Maid Park like a houseguest that just wouldn't leave.

Finally, in the 14th inning, Ike Davis - who an inning earlier had snapped an 0-for-19 skid - hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to give the Mets the lead. Manny Acosta pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the inning and the Mets had a 3-2 victory.

The Mets lost David Wright to an upset stomach and lightheadedness in the 12th inning after a single. He was replaced by pinch runner Mike Hessman. Wright said he hoped to play on Thursday night after resting during the day.

The Mets got 52/3 innings of scoreless relief from Takahashi, Bobby Parnell, winning pitcher Elmer Dessens (3-1) and Acosta (first save).

Parnell threw two innings of perfect relief, striking out three, and was consistently clocked at 100 miles per hour on the stadium gun. One pitch registered at 103.

"Parnell was . . . wow . . . he was impressive," Manuel said.

In the 14th, Jose Reyes (4-for-6) led off with a walk, was sacrificed to second by Angel Pagan, stole third, and remained there through a pair of walks before Davis' sac fly against lefthander Gustavo Chacin (1-2).

So, yes, the Mets scored the winning run without a base hit.

"I was waiting on a passed ball or something," Manuel said.

Dickey had gone 18 at-bats without a hit before his RBI double to leftfield snapped a scoreless tie in the seventh. Dickey was an unlikely offensive catalyst for the Mets, but he was not the only one.

Dickey's hit drove in Ruben Tejada, who had doubled with one out to snap his own 0-for-28 streak. The Mets were 0-for-8 with men on base to that point.

Manuel had the opportunity to pinch hit for both Tejada and Dickey in the seventh against Brett Myers, but the decision to stand pat at that point served him well.

Reyes followed Dickey's double with a single to center. The hard-charging pitcher almost ran though third-base coach Chip Hale's stop sign, but he picked it up just in time to turn on the brakes. Dickey scored the Mets' second run when Pagan beat out the back end of a potential double-play ball.

In his last outing, Dickey one-hit the Phillies on Friday in a 1-0 win. In this game, he gave up nine hits, walked one and struck out six in 81/3 innings. Manuel said he did not regret leaving Dickey in.

"I felt that it was his game," Manuel said. "If he had allowed a runner in that inning, I would have taken him out. I wouldn't have let him lose the game that late."

In the last 12 games, Mets starting pitchers have a 1.79 ERA. But the hurlers' combined record is just 4-4.

The lineup for this game was delayed for an hour as Manuel waited for Carlos Beltran to go through batting practice.

"We had two lineups," Manuel said. "One with Carlos in and one with him not in it. I wanted to check with him to be sure he felt good enough. He said he feels good. I think he's starting to swing the bat a lot better. I think he's playing a better centerfield. Like to see if that can continue."

Beltran smiled when asked if he needed to rest.

"I don't need rest, man," he said. "I need to play. That's all I need."