Das Ponyforum » keep the game close.

NEW YORK -- Hard to imagine one day on the job was truly enough for new Mets hitting coach Lamar Johnson to make much of a difference. Justin Bethel Falcons Jersey . It only looked that way. Juan Lagares drove in two runs, Vic Black gave the bullpen a boost and New York finally managed some timely hits Tuesday night in a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. "We were hoping wed have a good homestand," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "Weve played well. We just havent hit and driven in the big runs. To have a game like tonight I thought was important." Daniel Murphy doubled twice and No. 8 batter Ruben Tejada reached base all four times up to help the Mets win for only the fourth time in 13 games. The victory came one day after batting coach Dave Hudgens was fired and replaced by Johnson, who had been New Yorks minor league hitting co-ordinator. Black (1-0) got four big outs in his first major league outing this season, and Jenrry Mejia pitched two innings for his fourth save. With a runner on, Curtis Granderson made an outstanding catch in the right-field corner for the second out of the ninth. Mejia then walked Andrew McCutchen and retired Mets nemesis Gaby Sanchez on a game-ending grounder. "We lined out multiple times. Some nights, thats just the way it is," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. Starling Marte hit a two-run single for the Pirates, hurt by four wild pitches in losing for the second time in seven games. With the score 2-all, Tejada drew his second walk to start the sixth. He advanced on two wild pitches by Jeanmar Gomez (0-2) and scored when Lagares flicked a single over a drawn-in infield. Murphy followed with an RBI double to make it 4-2. "Lagares had a great at-bat," Murphy said. "Got some timely hitting and I think some really good baserunning out there as well, too, so its a good win." Black struck out Sanchez with runners at the corners to end the seventh. Pittsburgh had first and third again in the eighth when Mejia got pinch-hitter Pedro Alvarez to ground into an inning-ending double play. "Now Im ready for any situation," Mejia said. Handed a 2-0 lead, Mets starter Jonathon Niese let it slip away. Normally a fast worker, Niese slowed his pace considerably as he walked three batters in the sixth. Martes bases-loaded single tied it, but Black struck out pinch-hitter Ike Davis with the bases loaded to end the inning. It was a matchup that pitted two players against their former teams. Black was acquired from Pittsburgh last August, and the Mets traded Davis to the Pirates last month. Black was expected to be in the Mets bullpen at the start of the season, but was shipped to the minors after a rough spring. The right-hander got called up as the roster addition for Sundays doubleheader against Arizona, then sent back down immediately after the games. He went to meet Triple-A Las Vegas in El Paso, Texas, but quickly turned around when the Mets recalled him late Monday to replace reliever Jose Valverde, who was released. Functioning on little sleep, Black took an early flight back to New York on Tuesday and showed up at the ballpark ready to pitch. "Vic got out of it for me and he did a great job," Niese said. "The way it started off, I felt like I could go seven or eight today, kind of save the bullpen. Thats why I was angry with the sixth." Pirates starter Edinson Volquez walked five and threw two wild pitches in five innings, extending his struggles on the road. "Thats what youre supposed to do, keep the game close. But I know walks killed me tonight," Volquez said. Murphy doubled in the third and scored on Bobby Abreus two-out single. Tejada and Lagares both doubled off the wall in left field in the fourth to make it 2-0. Lagares made a leaping catch of McCutchens drive at the 390-foot sign in right-centre to end the first inning. McCutchen returned the favour with a spectacular, diving grab to rob Lagares of extra bases in the third. "They kind of traded them, didnt they?" Hurdle said. "We just couldnt find gaps. Good plays by the centre fielders, as good as youre going to see." NOTES: Hurdle said hes looking to get a day off soon for 2B Neil Walker, who has started all 51 games this season. ... After a setback Sunday, Mets RHP Dillon Gee (strained lat) is headed to the teams complex in Florida to continue his rehabilitation. He said it will probably be a few days before he tries to get on the mound again. "Were going to go with the slow-and-steady approach this time," he said. ... Mets C Travis dArnaud (concussion) went 0 for 1 with a walk in a rehab game for Double-A Binghamton. He was scheduled to catch seven innings, but the game was suspended after two innings because of rain. As long as he got his work in and felt OK, dArnaud was expected to be activated Wednesday or Thursday. ... Rap star 50 Cent was comically off target with the ceremonial first pitch. Isaiah Oliver Jersey . Bjoerndalen, who had failed to win any major race for two years before Sochi, writes in a Facebook entry that he is "full of energy and inspiration" after winning the 10-kilometre sprint and mixed relay at last months Olympics. Brandon Fusco Jersey . Its the second of three meetings between these teams this season. Vancouver was a 2-1 winner on home ice December 22nd. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Brandon-Fusco-Jersey/ . Not Peyton Manning. Hes holding on to the heartache to stoke his competitive fire.LONDON -- Liverpool kept up its Premier League title challenge with a 4-3 win against Swansea in an entertaining game at Anfield on Sunday. The victory strengthened Liverpools position in the top four after Tottenham lost 1-0 at Norwich in the days late kickoff, cutting the north London club six points adrift of fourth place and the final Champions League slot for next season. The result means Liverpool is still only four points behind leader Chelsea, which has 60 points after beating Everton 1-0 on Saturday. Arsenal is a point behind in second after thrashing Sunderland 4-1 and third-place Manchester City has 57 and a game in hand. A fast start saw Liverpool lead 2-0 after 20 minutes against manager Brendan Rodgers former club. Daniel Sturridge took the ball past Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm to open the scoring before setting up Jordan Henderson to curl a shot into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area. But former Liverpool player Jonjo Shelvey pulled a goal back on 23 minutes from long range before Wilfried Bony scored with a header four minutes later to bring Swansea back to level terms. Sturridge headed home his second in the 36th minute after being picked out by an accurate delivery from Luis Suarez -- but Swansea levelled again soon after halftime, with Bony scoring a penalty after being fouled by Martin Skrtel. Both sides then went close to taking the lead. Suarez brought a good stop from Vorm and Jonathan de Guzman went near with a free kick but it was Henderson who secured the three points for Liverpool, finding the net with his second attempt after Vorm saved his initial shot. "Today we were not quite at our best but we scored four goals and won the game," Rodgers said. Logan Paulsen Falcons Jersey. "It was a very, very important performance for us." Rodgers was also pleased to see Henderson getting on the scoresheet. "The first goal was outstanding, and weve been talking to him about getting up there because in training his finishing is sublime," Rodgers said. Norwich moved four points away from the relegation zone with its much-needed victory at Carrow Road. After a quiet first half, Robert Snodgrass scored early in the second with a neat finish to beat Hugo Lloris. "Everybody at this football club is pushing in the right direction," Norwich manager Chris Hughton said. "We only want results. We have 11 more games to get as many points as we can." Tottenham failed to properly challenge the Norwich defence and a second goal from the home side looked more likely. Midfielder Bradley Johnson hit the underside of the crossbar with a long range free kick and Nathan Redmond saw his effort well saved by Lloris. Elsewhere, Newcastle secured a late 1-0 victory at home to Aston Villa thanks to Loic Remys 12th goal of the season in the final minute of stoppage time. A shot from Luuk de Jong was deflected but landed at the feet of Remy, who deceived Ron Vlaar with a dummy before shooting beyond United States goalkeeper Brad Guzan. 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