Ordonez's hit -- which easily could have been scored an error -- and pinch-hitter Mark Johnson's two-run double made a winner of John Franco (6-2), a native New Yorker and the Mets player probably most personally affected by last week's terrorist attacks.

Wearing caps honoring the New York fire fighters, police and rescue workers, plus American flags on their jerseys and hats, the Mets won their 18th in 23 games.

Pirates reliever Mike Fetters (3-2) started the ninth by hitting Tsuyoshi Shinjo with a pitch, then walked Jay Payton two outs later. Ordonez's shot then hit off third baseman Aramis Ramirez's glove and went into left field, with Shinjo just beating the throw the plate.

Armando Benitez finished up for his 39th save. Franco, in the Mets' dugout, got several pats on the back after the final out.

The Mets talked beforehand of wanting to get on the field again, if only to provide a few hours of diversion for the thousands of rescue and relief workers who have toiled endless hours since Tuesday.

They took a 1-0 lead in the third on Ordonez's leadoff single, a hit batter, an intentional walk and Shinjo's bases-loaded walk.

That was the only run allowed in five innings by Todd Ritchie, who is trying to become the first pitcher since 1900 to start 0-8 and finish .500 or better. Ritchie, who is 11-12, was lifted for a pinch-hitter as the Pirates tied it in the fifth and didn't figure in the decision.

Pinch-hitter Craig Wilson's groundout scored Gary Matthews Jr., who reached on a force play and moved up on Warren Morris' double for the only Pirates run off Al Leiter.

Leiter, who has 1.04 ERA in seven career starts against Pittsburgh, struck out eight during seven innings of four-hit pitching. He had won his previous four starts.

Notes: This is the Mets' third trip to Pittsburgh this season, yet Monday's game was their first there since May 11, 2000 -- a span of 464 days. The Mets opened PNC Park with two exhibition games, then returned last week for a three-game series that was postponed. The current series originally was scheduled for Shea Stadium, but was moved to Pittsburgh because of the relief efforts in New York. Last week's postponed series will be played Oct. 1-3 in New York.