PULASKI - For the second straight night, the Pulaski Blue Jays failed to cash in on an early lead and it cost them, as they fell 9-6 to the visiting Kingsport Mets.

The Blue Jays exploded for six in the first three innings but could not hold a five-run lead. The visiting Mets used one-run rallies in the first, fourth and fifth innings to chip away at the deficit, then took the lead with a four-run seventh.

The Blue Jays, who allowed a season-high five unearned runs, dipped into their bullpen early. In the fifth, they inserted Adrian Martin to relieve starter Brian Grant. Martin was successful in stopping the immediate onslaught, but manager Gary Cathcart had hoped to get more innings out of his right-handed starter.

"Our bullpen is getting a little taxed right now," Cathcart said.

In the sixth, the Mets got a two-out rally going by loading the bases with a couple of hits and a walk. The inning appeared over when Mets hitter Horace Lawrence hit a slow ground ball to Blue Jays shortstop Eugenio Velez.

The flip to second was dropped, however, and the inning continued. The Blue Jays were immediately punished for their mistake when the next batter, Josh Petersen, doubled to clear the bases and give the Mets the lead for good.

Earlier in the game, the rout seemed on after the Blue Jays put up two and three runs in the first two innings, then added another in the third. The early Blue Jays' production was capped by a two-run Nick Thomas double in the second.

Pulaski scored another second-inning run in bizarre fashion. With Thomas on third and Yuber Rodriguez on second, first baseman David Hicks hit a ground ball to the shortstop. The ball was fielded and thrown home to get Thomas out, but Hicks rounded first and went for second.

The catcher hurled the ball to the second baseman, and the Mets had Hicks caught in a rundown. While Hicks danced around to avoid his pursuers, Rodriguez sneaked from third to home and scored. Hicks then reached second safely thanks to a late throw to home to try and catch Rodriguez.

As productive as the Blue Jays' bats were earlier, they were quiet for the rest of the game.

"We didn't do anything for the last six innings," Cathcart said. "We didn't put together the consistent quality hits that we needed."

Kingsport relievers held the Blue Jays to five baserunners in the final six innings of the game. Pulaski's best chance to rally came in the ninth, when Mets pitching plunked Rodriguez and walked Hicks. Kingsport then brought in closer David Smith, who did his job by getting the last hitter to ground out.

The first-place Blue Jays fall to 31-21. They remain one game ahead of the Danville Braves, who won 5-3 over the Greenville Astros.

Kingsport100 110 411-9 13 0

Pulaski231 000 000-6 7 2

Miramontes, Sides (4), Smith (9) and Arroyo; Grant, Martin (5), Harang (8), Tressler (9) and Bormaster. WP-Sides (1-0). LP- Martin (2-2). S-Smith (1) HR-Lawrence (3), Petersen (3), Garibaldi (4).