Mets rally to take victory away from Astros

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Astros led early after Carlos Pena hit a two-run homer in the first inning and added an RBI single in the second, but the Mets rallied in the seventh inning for a 7-5 win on Wednesday night at Osceola County Stadium.

Jordany Valdespin's RBI single kicked off New York's late four-run rally, which also included Zach Lutz's RBI base hit and a two-run triple by Matthew den Dekker.

Pena's fourth homer of the spring, which came off Mets starter Dillon Gee, put the Astros ahead, 2-0, in the first, and Houston scored three more times in the second on RBIs by Pena, Jose Altuve and Brett Wallace to take a five-run lead.

The Mets cut the lead to three runs in the third on a two-run homer by Collin Cowgill, and Brian Bixler added an RBI triple in the fifth inning.

Gee, making his fifth Spring Training appearance, worked four innings and allowed seven hits and five earned runs while striking out five. Astros starter Alex White, who's in contention for one of the final spots in the rotation, allowed seven hits and three runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Up next: With Shaun Marcum unavailable because of an impingement in his right shoulder, Jeremy Hefner will slide forward in the rotation to face the Cardinals in a 1:10 p.m. game at Tradition Field. Hefner was already scheduled to start the season in the rotation because of Johan Santana's injury, but he could take on a more prominent role if Marcum misses significant time. In his most recent outing, against the Braves, Hefner struck out the final six batters he faced.