Murphy’s Hit Wins It For Mets, 3-2

Murphy drove in Jeff Francoeur to give the New York Mets a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, just before learning their All-Star third baseman was headed for the disabled list with symptoms from the concussion he sustained the previous day.

“Nobody wants to ask me about Murphy’s game-winning hit?” manager Jerry Manuel said, standing up after fielding a series of questions about Wright. “You guys are really bad.”

Luis Castillo tried to make up for Wright’s absence with a rare two-run homer, and All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez (3-4) struck out the side in the ninth to earn the win. K-Rod allowed Bengie Molina’s winning homer in the 10th inning on Saturday.

“Every time you get a W,” Murphy said simply, “it feels good.”

Castillo connected with two outs in the fifth inning off Jonathan Sanchez for his first homer since May 30, 2008, at Shea Stadium. Left fielder Fred Lewis barely turned around to watch the ball land in the second deck of spacious Citi Field, giving New York a 2-1 lead.

The Giants tied it in the eighth before the Mets put together their winning rally.

Francoeur opened the ninth with a single off Sergio Romo (3-2) deep into the hole at shortstop, hustling down the line to beat the throw to first. Fernando Tatis followed with a perfect sacrifice, and Murphy roped a clean single off Jeremy Affeldt to right field.

“I just hung a curveball and he hit it,” Affeldt said.

Not known for his speed, Francoeur trundled around third and slid in just ahead of the tag from catcher Eli Whiteside, with veteran umpire Jerry Crawford signaling him safe.

“I think Jerry was so tired by then,” Francoeur said, “if I was anywhere close I was going to be safe.”

Despite their best efforts to make light of the afternoon, the Mets were still somewhat subdued about 18 hours after Wright was hit in the helmet by a 94 mph fastball from the Giants’ Matt Cain. Wright was taken to the hospital for a CT scan, which came back negative, and kept overnight for observation before being released Sunday morning.

General manager Omar Minaya announced after the game that Wright was going on the DL.

“David wanted to take a chance to go out and play, but we decided to take it away from him and DL him based on the recommendation of our doctors who consulted with a specialist,” Minaya said. “It’s a medical decision.”

Mets starter Mike Pelfrey and his counterpart Sanchez matched each other nearly pitch for pitch most of the afternoon, and neither got anything to show for it.

Pelfrey allowed two runs and five hits over 7 1-3 innings, striking out eight in another strong start against the Giants. The big right-hander has allowed only four runs in three tries against them covering 20 1-3 innings, but has just one win.

Sanchez worked around four walks and four hits to last seven innings. He struck out seven and still has only one victory in 13 road starts.

He helped himself in the fifth, advancing Whiteside with a sacrifice before Eugenio Velez hit a two-out single through the left side of the infield to give San Francisco a 1-0 lead.

Pelfrey cruised after that, retiring eight straight batters before the Giants rallied to tie it at 2. Velez hit a two-out double in the eighth and slumping Randy Winn followed with an RBI double. After an intentional walk to Pablo Sandoval and a carousel of pinch hitters and pitching changes, Pedro Feliciano stopped the threat by getting Ryan Garko to line out.

“You play this game long enough, it’s going to happen, you know?” Garko said of his hot shot right at second baseman Castillo. “What can you do?”

NOTES: The Mets promoted INF Andy Green from Triple-A Buffalo to take Wright’s place on the roster. … Giants 3B Sandoval ran into the railing of the camera pit near the dugout chasing a foul ball in the eighth. He was tended to by trainers but remained in the game. … Pelfrey has won only once since July 12. … Mets RHP Livan Hernandez faces Giants RHP Joe Martinez in the series finale Monday.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.