Mets Blown Out 8-2 By Pirates, Suffer Third Straight Loss
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets (85-50) lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates (49-84) tonight to open up a four-game series. The Mets have now lost three consecutive games for only the third time this season. This three-game losing streak, however, has all come to the hands of last-place teams.
Mitch Keller‘s night started out shaky in the top half of the first. After retiring Brandon Nimmo for the first out of the game, the Pittsburgh starter nailed Starling Marte on the hand with a fastball and gave up a single to Francisco Lindor. In a position where he has succeeded all season, Pete Alonso grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The bottom half of the first inning was uneventful for Walker, who got through the inning with two strikeouts. The attention turned towards Marte, who was replaced by Tyler Naquin at the beginning of the second inning.
The bottom half of the second inning would not be kind to the Mets either. Kevin Newman and Jack Suwinski hit back-to-back singles off Walker with one out in the inning. With a runner on third, Michael Chavis hit hit into a sacrifice fly to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
The Mets found themselves in a similar situation in the top half of the third inning. Naquin, who had come in for Marte, singled with one out. Lindor then followed with a walk to advance Naquin into scoring position. Identically to the first inning, Alonso hit a double-play ball to Oneil Cruz to end the top half of the third.
The Pirates were able to add on to their lead in the bottom half of the third inning. After Bryan Reynolds walked with one out in the inning, Rodolfo Castro hit a towering home run off the left field foul pole. Castro continues to torture the Mets, as he hit three home runs against New York at Citi Field last year.
After holding the Pirates scoreless in the fourth, Walker would again be tagged in the fifth. With one out in the inning, Cruz ripped a double down the right field line. Reynolds then hit a line drive into right field to bring in the Pittsburgh shortstop. Before tonight’s game, Reynolds had a lifetime slash line of .327/.421/.531 against the Mets.
That would be all from Walker, who was pulled after the end of the fifth inning. The Mets starter had a disappointing start in Pittsburgh, surrendering four runs over five innings to the National League’s worst offense. Walker’s second-half ERA now sits at a startling 6.10. After only giving up 27 earned runs in 91 2/3 innings in the first half, Walker has now given up 21 earned runs in 31 second-half innings.
Keller on the other hand registered his best start of the year against the Mets. The Pittsburgh starter settled in after the third inning and only allowed two singles over his last three innings. Keller’s night would be finished after six scoreless innings. It was the first time all year that Mitch Keller had made it through an outing without giving up a run, as Wayne Randazzo pointed out.
The Mets would finally break through against the Pirates in the top of the seventh inning. With James McCann on first base, Nimmo crushed a long home run to left center field to cut the lead to 4-2. The Mets leadoff hitter seems to be out of his funk, slashing .320/.320/.480 over his last six games.
Unfortunately for New York, the Pirates would add insurance runs and then some in the eighth inning. After a scoreless seventh inning, Showalter attempted to squeeze out a second inning from Bryce Montes de Oca. The Mets rookie would collapse in the eighth.
Ke’Bryan Hayes led off the inning with a walk and then stole second base. Kevin Newman would then hit a single, which did not score Hayes, and advance to second on a throw to the wrong base. Both runs would come in to score after Montes de Oca threw a wild pitch and gave up a single to Jason Delay.
Matters would get worse for New York once Tommy Hunter came into the game. The Mets veteran promptly gave up a two run home run to Cruz, giving the Pirates an 8-2 lead.
New York would put up a fight in the top half of the ninth inning. With two outs in the inning, Eduardo Escobar and Daniel Vogelbach both walked. Nimmo, looking to do more damage, grounded out on the first pitch he saw to end the game.
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Player of the Game: Brandon Nimmo
Nimmo provided the only two runs for the Mets tonight on his two-run home run. There wasn’t much else to celebrate on Tuesday.
On Deck
The Mets and Pirates will face each other twice in one day due to the rain out on Tuesday.
The first game of the doubleheader will begin at 12:35 p.m. The second game will begin at 6:35. Jacob deGrom will start the nightcap and Chris Bassitt will start the day game. Both games will be available on SNY and WCBS 880.
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