"Zach Duke isn't tired, isn't hurt and is doing everything he needs to do well in between starts.

But on the mound, the 27-year-old left-hander just isn't putting the ball where he wants, with disastrous results.

Duke got torched for the second game in a row Tuesday against the New York Mets at Citi Field, getting the hook after 31/3 innings in a 9-1 loss.

"It's tougher on the team," a sullen Duke said after the loss. "Obviously I've been not good at all the last two starts, and this team's been battling much too hard for me to do that to them. So I have to find a way to be better, and I will."

The Mets had a 4-0 lead after two innings, then stretched it to 6-0 on solo homers by Carlos Beltran (his fourth) and Nick Evans (his first) in the third inning.

Duke was replaced by Joe Martinez with one out in the fourth after Jose Reyes's RBI single. Duke's line: eight runs (seven earned), nine hits, one walk and four strikeouts.

The blowout ended a string of four close games ? one of which the Pirates won and three they lost in extra innings ? going back to Duke's last start, a 9-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves in which the Pirates trailed, 8-0, after three innings.

Duke has just two wins in his past nine starts dating to the beginning of August.

"(I was) just trying to be more aggressive," Duke said. "I was more aggressive; the ball was just hittable. (I) have to figure something out."

He may not have time.

Manager John Russell said they're going to consider what their options are when asked if they'll stick with Duke over the remainder of the season."