Pence:Two-homer hero
(c) Associated Press
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On paper, the odds of a pitching matchup between Johan Santana vs. Nelson Figueroa would seem only slightly lower than Ubaldo Jimenez vs. Miss Iowa but Figueroa shook off some early struggles and Hunter Pence provided the offense as Houston nipped the Mets, 4-3, Tuesday night.
Pence crushed a three-run homer off Santana in the first then unloaded a solo encore in the eighth for the game-winner after David Wright had tied it with his own homer in the top of the inning.
Mark Melancon gave up that homer to Wright but Pence's blast allowed Melancon to get his first big league win. Wilton Lopez gave up an infield comebacker in the ninth but rebounded to claim his first big league save.
Figueroa, a 38-year-old waiver claim from (guess who?) the Phillies, gave up single tallies in the first two innings but lasted five innings with just four hits allowed. Jeff Fulchino did a great job with two relief innings before Melancon came in for the eighth.
The Astros will see knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (8-5) against Brett Myers (8-7) in Wednesday's 7:05 Central contest. Myers has a 9-6 career record against New York.
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