Pirates 3, Mets 2 (10 innings)
NEW YORK -- Right fielder Gregory Polanco's 10th inning RBI single snapped a tie Friday night and the Pittsburgh Pirates went on to beat the New York Mets 3-2 in a battle of National League playoff contenders at Citi Field.
The Pirates (67-46) won their second straight to remain 1 1/2 games ahead of the Chicago Cubs atop the National League wild card standings.
The Mets (63-53) had their four-game winning streak snapped. New York was trying to go 12 games over .500 for the first time since the final day of the 2008 season.
Pirates catcher Chris Stewart led off the 10th by singling off right-hander Bobby Parnell (1-2). Pinch-hitter Francisco Cervelli followed with a single on a full-count pitch as pinch-runner Starling Marte raced to third.
Polanco singled on the next pitch to chase Parnell. Cervelli and Marte advanced a base on a groundout by second baseman Neil Walker and third baseman Aramis Ramirez followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Cervelli with what proved to be a valuable insurance run.
Right-hander Arquimedes Caminero (3-1) allowed one hit in the ninth to earn the win.
Right-hander Mark Melancon converted his 34th straight save, and his 36th of the season overall, despite allowing a run in the bottom of the 10th, when center fielder Juan Lagares doubled, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Curtis Granderson.
Walker homered in the first for the Pirates while Stewart and first baseman Pedro Alvarez each had two hits.
For the Mets, left fielder Yoenis Cespedes homered in the sixth and finished 3-for-5. Lagares and second baseman Daniel Murphy had two hits.
Mets right-hander Bartolo Colon allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out seven over seven innings. It was just his second no-decision in his last 35 starts.
Pirates left-hander J.A. Happ allowed one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out seven over 5 1/3 innings. He was making his second start since being acquired from the Seattle Mariners on July 31.
NOTES: Mets 1B Lucas Duda (back) missed his fourth straight game but said Friday that he was "moving in the right direction." Manager Terry Collins, who expressed worry on Thursday that Duda might be headed for the disabled list, said Friday that the off-day on Monday would likely buy the Mets some extra time to rest Duda. ... Mets 3B David Wright (spinal stenosis) and OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis (neck/left shoulder) were scheduled to play for Class A St. Lucie on Friday. ... Pirates OF Starling Marte (bruised left hand) was out of the lineup for a second straight day. ... Pirates 2B Neil Walker had hits from both sides of the plate in the first inning of Thursday's game against the Cardinals. According to Elias Sports Bureau, he is the first Pirates player to achieve that feat.