Beltran and Pelfrey lead the Mets, 7-0

NEW YORK -- Carlos Beltran hit a three-run home run, Mike Pelfrey dominated over eight innings and New York Mets defeated the Colorado Rockies, 7-0, Sunday night for their ninth consecutive victory.

“I’m really looking forward to getting the second half going,” Manager Jerry Manuel said, smiling. “The way our pitching staff is going right now, I’m very excited about what’s to come.”

The Mets were 5 1/2 games back in the National League East on July 4 and will resume play Thursday -- after the All-Star break -- at Cincinnati trailing division-leading Philadelphia by only half a game.

A big reason for the Mets’ resurgence is their pitching staff.

Mixing a four-seam fastball with a sharp sinker, Pelfrey (8-6) gave up six hits and didn’t walk a batter for the second consecutive game. The 6-foot-7 right-hander began laboring in the eighth inning, putting runners on first and second with two out, but he got Scott Podsednik to pop out to third base.

The Rockies have lost four games in a row and 11 of 13 on the road.