PITTSBURGH — Pedro Martinez was close to tears, and it wasn't only because the New York Mets failed to clinch the NL East on Friday night.

Martinez struggled in his first start in more than a month, allowing four runs in three innings in a 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

When he came out of the game, Martinez sat in the dugout, head in his hands, and manager Willie Randolph put an arm around him.

"My pitches weren't there. That was the biggest frustration," Martinez said. "I was about to snap and let it all out. Thank God Willie was there. I felt like crying at that time."

Martinez (9-6) had been on the disabled list because of a strained right calf since Aug. 14, and Randolph said he would be limited to 60-to-80 pitches.

He threw 68 pitches and gave up six hits, walked one, hit a batter and made a throwing error. He struck out four.

Randolph said Martinez was healthy and would take his next turn in the rotation.

After the game, the Mets missed a second chance to clinch its first division title in 18 years when Philadelphia held on for a 4-3 win at Houston. Many of the Mets watched on television as Houston's Humberto Quintero hit into a game-ending double play.

Paul Maholm (8-10) allowed one run and two hits in seven innings as the Pirates beat the Mets for the second time in seven tries this season. Maholm, who walked three batters and hit three, is 4-0 in his last seven starts.

"Them being in first place and if they win they get to celebrate, that was another incentive to go out there and pitch good, because I don't think there's a player in here that wants to watch them celebrate on our field," Maholm said.

Salomon Torres pitched the ninth for his eighth save — all coming in Pittsburgh's last eight wins.

Jason Bay hit his 33rd homer and drove in three runs. Jose Reyes had two hits and two RBIs for the Mets.

"It shows the way we've been playing," said Bay, whose team is 31-27 since the All-Star break after a 30-60 start. "Regardless of who we're playing, we are playing good baseball. It's somewhat gratifying against teams like this to stack yourself up to see how you have been doing."