The Mets defeated the Giants 9-6 Tuesday night. It was good news for Pedro Martinez who lasted six innings and threw 109 pitches, allowing three runs. It seems the Mets didn't feel they needed to work Pedro back slowly.

The Mets were expecting him to throw 90 to 100 pitches, but Randolph had said, "Don't hold me to that." No one did. Martínez had thrown 90 through five innings, but the bullpen stayed silent. He gave up consecutive hits to begin the inning, putting runners on the corners, but he struck out Brian Horwitz on a vicious slider on pitch No. 100, caught Fred Lewis looking at a curveball for the second out, then retired Travis Denker on a ground ball. On his walk to the dugout, Martínez pumped his fist and smiled broadly.

He also picked up two hits in the game and ran the bases fine. So far so good. The Mets are a better team with Pedro in the rotation.

On the other side, Barry Zito gave back his May progress. He went back to being wild last night, walking five with one strikeout as he gave up six runs in 4 1/3 innings. It could have been worse as Carlos Delgado missed a big hanging curve in the first inning and the Mets scored just once in that frame. They lit up Barry in the fifth, however, scoring eight runs. That was their biggest inning of the season.