No whiz, but Mets' Gee ups record to 8-1

ARLINGTON, Texas -- This wasn't one of his sharper outings, but Dillon Gee was effective enough to make it worth the 40-mile drive for his family and friends from nearby Cleburne, Texas.

Gee was forced to pitch out of trouble during most of Sunday afternoon and needed 102 pitches to survive six innings. Along the way, he allowed eight hits and three runs, which nudged his ERA from 3.21 to 3.32. Even so, Gee improved to 8-1, and his .889 winning percentage is the best in the majors.

In his last two starts in front of a personal cheering section -- the other was in Houston on May 13 -- Gee has surrendered seven runs, 13 hits and six walks in 11 innings.

"I was a little nervous coming into the day," said Gee, who visited this ballpark as a fan growing up. "It was a little weird being here and pitching."

Gee again struggled with his command and had to be told to use his curveball, which he didn't throw in the first two innings. He had only two clean innings and needed great defensive plays from Jose Reyes and Daniel Murphy to hold down the Rangers.

"Dillon Gee has proved that even on days he doesn't have his best stuff, he can win a game for you," Terry Collins said. "He got some help today. The guys picked him up. They gave him some runs to work with, he hung in there and gave us what we needed to get to."

Capuano OK for Wednesday

Chris Capuano remains on schedule to start Wednesday in Detroit after he had no issues during Sunday's side session. Capuano was pulled from Thursday's start after 88 pitches after complaining of abdominal cramping, but the symptoms are gone.

Extra bases

Francisco Rodriguez entered in a non-save situation because he needed the work, and he picked up his 29th game finished. It wasn't easy. He allowed two hits, two runs and a walk . . . High school righthander Michael Fulmer, the Mets' 44th pick in the draft, visited the clubhouse before the game. His signing is expected to be announced shortly.