Skid's at two: Mets fall to Pirates 3-1

June 2, 10:32 PMNew York Mets ExaminerAndrew Mees

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Santana fell to 7-3 on the season.

Johan Santana isn't outdueled often. 

But Pirates ace Zach Duke was the better lefty on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, as he stifled a depleted Mets lineup and allowed a single run over seven innings, sending the Mets ace home with his third loss of the season and the club's third loss in its last four games.

Santana cruised through the first four innings, his offense staking him to a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by Luis Castillo in the fifth.  But that was all a lineup featuring just two regulars could muster, as they failed to score two runs or more for the fifth time in Santana' s eleven starts. 

Hitless through the first ten batters, Pirates catcher Jason Jaramillo was the first to solve the mystery launching a solo homer in the fifth, now able to claim his first career home run was off the Great Johan Santana. 

The damage continued in the sixth, when Santana surrendered three straight hits to start the inning, including back-to-back doubles to Nate McLouth and Adam LaRoche that widened the gap to 3-1.  He was able to wiggle his way out of trouble by enducing a 1-6-3 double play, ending his night with another quality start wasted. 

The club returns to action tomorrow night in Pittsburgh, when they'll play the third game of their four-game set with the Pirates.  Mike Pelfrey will take the mound for New York hoping to stop their skid, opposite Ross Ohlendorf for Pittsburgh.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM.