Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Mike Pelfrey pitched his second consecutive complete game, and Carlos Delgado hit a pair of three-run home runs, as the New York Mets blasted Houston, 9-1, to earn a split in the four-game series.

Pelfrey (13-8) had his first career complete game on August 20 against Atlanta, and nearly followed it up with his first career shutout. He gave up just one run -- in the ninth inning -- on six hits, walked none and struck out six in the nine-inning performance. Pelfrey has now won three consecutive starts.

"My sinker was very, very good tonight, and the guys played great defense," Pelfrey said. "Any time that that thing's working, I'm definitely going to use it as much as I can. Just throw that thing down over the plate, and let them hit it into the ground."

Delgado propelled the Mets' offense by notching his fourth multi-homer game of the season, while Jose Reyes finished 3-for-4 with a double, triple, two runs batted in and two scored.

With the win, New York stayed ahead of Philadelphia atop the NL East. The Mets hold a scant half-game edge over the Phillies, who also won on Monday by defeating Los Angeles. The two clubs begin a crucial two-game series on Tuesday.

Brian Moehler (9-5) took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits and a pair of walks in 5 1/3 frames, while striking out four. Wesley Wright gave up three runs in 1 2/3 relief innings, while Doug Brocail surrendered two runs in one inning.

Geoff Blum and Darin Erstad each had two hits, while Ty Wigginton drove in the lone run for the Astros, who had a two-game win streak snapped.

Delgado got the Mets on the board in the first inning. Reyes led off with a single, stole second after Luis Castillo struck out, and David Wright worked a walk. Delgado then smashed the ball over the left field fence for a 3-0 New York lead.

"He's a great player," Moehler said of Delgado, who was the pitcher's teammate in 2005 with the Marlins. "He's probably one of the most prepared guys I've ever played with...The way Pelfrey pitches, three runs is all he needed."

Meanwhile, Pelfrey stayed out of trouble by allowing only singles to Lance Berkman and Erstad through the first four innings. In each instance he induced a double play to negate the hit. The Mets starter worked around a Blum double in the fifth and set Houston down in order in the sixth.

New York tacked on another run in the home sixth on Daniel Murphy's sacrifice fly off Wright.

Pelfrey was again perfect in the top of the seventh, and in the home half, Delgado hit his second homer. Reyes walked with one out, moved to second on a ground out, and Wright was given an intentional pass. Delgado stepped up and got a slider away with little movement, and he crushed it to straight-away center field for a 7-0 Mets lead.

Pelfrey got Michael Bourn to ground into a double play to end the top of the eighth inning without a run, and in the home eighth Reyes hit a two-run triple off Brocail to give New York a nine-run cushion.

In the ninth, Pelfrey returned to the mound and got one out before giving up a ground-rule double to pinch-hitter David Newhan. Erstad singled to put runners at the corners before Wigginton grounded the ball to first.

Delgado made a nice play to grab the sharp grounder and tag the base with his glove for the second out, while the run scored. Pelfrey then got Miguel Tejada to ground out to end the game.