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PITTSBURGH -- Gerrit Cole pointed a finger after losing his third straight start -- at himself. John Bucks two-run single capped a three-run first inning against Cole, and Dillon Gee pitched another gem against the Pirates as the New York Mets beat Pittsburgh 4-2 on Sunday. Cole (4-3) has lost three in a row since becoming the first Pirates pitcher since Nick Maddox in 1907 to win the first four starts of his career. "I didnt come out ready to pitch, and that inexcusable," Cole said. "Its just indefensible. I didnt give our team a very good chance to win. I put us in position where I had to scratch and claw and so did the rest of the team." Cole surrendered three runs and six hits in five innings with two walks and five strikeouts. He started in place of All-Star left-hander Jeff Locke, who was scratched from this start on Saturday because of lower back tightness. After losing Tuesday to Oakland, Cole wasnt expected to pitch again until after the All-Star break. However, he learned Friday he would likely start Sunday. "I had plenty of time to prepare," Cole said. "No excuse." Gee also didnt make any excuses despite pitching with sore feet. The right-hander developed blisters on the soles of his feet during an 87-degree afternoon. It was so warm that the dirt on the mound baked in the sun. However, Gee overcame the blisters and prevented the Pirates from sweeping the three-game series before the break. Gee (7-7) allowed just one unearned run in 6 2/3 innings to the Pirates (56-37), who entered the day tied with St. Louis for the best record in the major leagues and the National League Central lead. Gee is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA in five career starts against Pittsburgh. He scattered five hits, struck out two and walked one. "Its just sometimes this is the way it works out," Gee said of his success against the Pirates. "Theyre a really good team. I was just trying to throw strikes with all my pitches and just keep them off balance, and it worked out." Bobby Parnell earned his 17th save in 20 opportunities with a scoreless ninth despite giving up back-to-back singles to Clint Barmes and pinch-hitter Russell Martin with one out. He got Jordy Mercer to fly out to end the game. "We continue to fight until the final out," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "Sometimes Id like to see us hit the go button a little earlier in the game, but we always fight." Starling Marte had two hits for the Pirates, whose three-game winning streak was snapped. Buck, Eric Young Jr. and Marlon Byrd each had three hits for New York, which finished a 6-3 road trip. The Mets will host the All-Star game on Tuesday night at Citi Field. The Mets took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Byrd bounced a run-scoring, ground-rule double into the left-field seats, and Buck lined a two-run single to right. "Its the growing pains of a young pitcher," Hurdle said of Coles rocky first inning. "His command wasnt good and the changeup didnt come into play until the 35th pitch of the game even though it had been a good pitch for him in his previous outing." Marte also bounced an RBI double into the seats in the third inning to draw the Pirates within 3-1. Daniel Murphy tripled in a run in the seventh to restore the Mets three-run lead. Pittsburgh put runners on second and third with none out in the eighth on a single by Mercer and a double by Andrew McCutchen, but the Pirates scored only one run when Jose Tabata grounded out against LaTroy Hawkins. "We had chances late in the game but Hawkins is a veteran eighth-inning guy who did his job, and Parnell is a tough guy to square up," Hurdle said. "They held us off." NOTES: Pittsburgh RHP Mark Melancon was added as an injury replacement to the NL roster for Tuesday nights All-Star game at Citi Field in New York. That gives the Pirates a five-man All-Star contingent, their largest since 1972. Melancon joins Locke, RHP Jason Grilli, 3B Pedro Alvarez and McCutchen. ... Locke said he expects to make his next start July 21 at Cincinnati. . Collins said the blister on RHP Matt Harveys right index finger has healed and he will be able to pitch in the All-Star game. Harvey is a prime contender to be the NLs starting pitcher despite being scratched from his scheduled start Saturday against the Pirates because of the blister and to limit his innings this season.Derrick McKey Jersey . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). Lonnie Shelton Jersey . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. https://www.supersonicsjerseys.com/ . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. Custom Seattle Supersonics Jerseys . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. Spencer Haywood Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position.AUBURN, Ala. -- The Auburn Tigers have far more concerns than beating the latest pre-Iron Bowl FCS opponent.The 18th-ranked Tigers go into Saturday nights game against Alabama A&M without quarterback Sean White and tailback Kamryn Pettway, among other injury issues.That probably wont matter much in the outcome of this game for the Tigers (7-3) against the Bulldogs (4-6) but the uncertainty could linger into the Iron Bowl against No. 1 Alabama.Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said on his weekly radio show Thursday night that hell start senior Jeremy Johnson, who hasnt thrown a pass since the opening game against Clemson. Johnson opened last season as the starter.White passed for just 27 yards in last weeks loss to Georgia, when he aggravated a right (throwing) shoulder injury. That combined with some dropped passes and the absence of the Southeastern Conferences leading rusher Pettway led to a miserable offensive outing.Pettway remains out with a left leg injury. The big question mark is the status of White and Pettway for the Iron Bowl.Its got to be the next man up mentality, Tigers coach Gus Malzahn said.But questions abound about the next man at tailback and quarterback, too. QB John Franklin III, who has been the backup all season, is a dynamic runner but has only passed for 94 yards all season. Johnson struggled with mistakes and decision-making last season.At tailback, No. 2 rusher Kerryon Johnson has been playing through an ankle injury and Stanton Truitt (ankle) is out, along with H-back Chandler Cox (leg). Freshman Malik Miller returned to practice this week after missing the last five games with a knee injury, though its not assured that hell be ready to go.Starting safety Johnathon Ford has been working at running back, where he had six carriies for 73 yards against lesser competition as a freshman before moving to defense fulltime.ddddddddddddPunt returner/receiver Marcus Davis is also out for the final two games with a shoulder injury.---Some other things to look for in the Alabama A&M-Auburn game:WHOS THE QB: White was the SECs highest rated passer entering the Georgia game. Johnson is also mostly a dropback passer while any game plan with Franklin would likely include a number of zone read plays and designed QB runs. It could be a chance to play both and sort out the Iron Bowl starter if Whites not healthy.KERRYONS CARRIES: Malzahn indicated early in the week that the ideal scenario might be to rest Kerryon Johnson, too, but he might not have that luxury. The tailback has played in the past three games after sitting out against Arkansas. But at the same time we need to win this game, too, Malzahn said, so Im not ready to make a call on that right now.SENIOR SENDOFF: Its the final home game for a group of seniors that includes Ford, guard Alex Kozan, cornerback Joshua Holsey, right tackle Robert Leff, punter Kevin Phillips and wide receiver Tony Stevens.COWARTS OUT: This would have been a good time for backups like defensive end Byron Cowart to log some extra snaps. But the former top recruit is recovering from an emergency appendectomy he underwent on Wednesday.FULLERS HOUSE: Bulldogs assistant head coach Andy Fuller was an All-Southeastern Conference tight end for the Tigers and a member of the 1993 undefeated Auburn team. He was also on the Alabama A&M staff in 2012, the teams only other meeting.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '