Gee bounces back after rough start in win

CHICAGO -- The storm clouds that hovered over the Mets earlier this week were replaced by the real thing Wednesday night at Wrigley Field. The ballpark was shrouded in thick fog when the game began, but in those miserable conditions, Dillon Gee showed himself to be as resilient as he is resourceful.

Gee allowed four runs during a rocky first inning and then retired 16 of his final 18 batters as the Mets rode a 12-hit attack to squeeze in a shortened 7-4 win over the Cubs. The game was called after 6 2/3 innings because of rain -- a 41-minute delay -- and the start of this lingering storm is expected to put Thursday's game in jeopardy as well.

"This is the worst spring weather I've seen," Terry Collins said, "and I managed three years in Buffalo. We've had rain, wind, sleet. The inclement weather has been incredible."

The Mets scored five runs in the second inning to take a 6-4 lead and stayed in front thanks to Gee, who earned his first career complete game. They sent 11 batters to the plate, and reliever Justin Berg threw 12 straight balls at one point. Two of those walks came with the bases loaded.

Carlos Beltran had a two-run double that inning and added a leadoff triple in the sixth. Daniel Murphy, hitting fifth, also had two RBIs. The Mets, whose last grand slam was in August 2009, had seven plate appearances with the bases loaded and went 2-for-4 with two walks and a sacrifice fly.

Gee (4-0) entered as one of six pitchers to be undefeated with at least five starts. The Mets have won all six of his starts, but Gee's ERA jumped from 2.73 to 3.83 after giving up four runs in six innings. He struck out four and walked two.

"It was like playing in a mist," Gee said, "but you weren't getting wet."

In explaining Josh Thole's return to the lineup -- he was benched the last two games -- Collins cited Gee's success with him May 19, when Gee allowed only two hits in 7 2/3 innings.

"I did this because the last time these two guys were together, it was almost a no-hitter," Collins said. "So I thought I might want to stay with it."

But the Cubs took a 4-1 lead in the first inning. Gee immediately lost his perfect game by walking leadoff man Kosuke Fukudome, and one out later, Starlin Castro singled to centerfield.

Chicago then scored four runs with two outs, thanks to back-to-back two-run doubles by Reed Johnson and Alfonso Soriano. Gee had not allowed more than four runs in any of his five starts.

Fortunately for Gee, the Mets roared back on timely hits and inept pitching. In the second inning, after Beltran's two-run double chased starter Casey Coleman, Berg threw 12 straight balls.

"I was just happy to be able to bounce back," Gee said.