Delgado homers twice as Mets win

NEW YORK -- Carlos Delgado hit a pair of three-run home runs and helped turn three double plays and Mike Pelfrey pitched his second straight complete game to give the New York Mets a 9-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday night.

Jose Reyes had a two-run triple among his three hits, and Pelfrey came within two outs of his first major league shutout.

“He has tremendous, tremendous confidence right now,” Mets Manager Jerry Manuel said. “When he takes the mound he’s throwing filthy, filthy stuff.”

Delgado’s homer in the first off Brian Moehler (9-5) barely sneaked over the wall in left, but his drive off Wesley Wright in the seventh was sent emphatically over the 410-foot sign in center.

“Guess the ball was carrying,” Delgado said after his 46th multi-homer game and fourth this year.

Hours after John Maine was put on the disabled list and Mets General Manager Omar Minaya said others would have to “step up,” Pelfrey (13-8) did just that, striking out six without walking a batter.