DJ Stewart Launches Two Homers as Mets Beat Pirates, 8-3
The Mets took on the Pirates in the rubber match of their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon at Citi Field. Both teams began the day with a 54-66 record, but it was the Mets who came away with an 8-3 win. DJ Stewart led the way for the Mets offensively, clubbing his second and third home runs of the series and Tylor Megill limited the Pirates to two runs over five innings to pick up the win.
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Stewart’s big day at the plate began in the second inning. After hitting a pinch-hit home run on Tuesday night, Stewart homered off the facing of the Coca-Cola Corner in his first at-bat on Wednesday to give the Mets a 1-0 lead in what turned into a three-run inning for the Mets. Stewart launched his second home run of the day in the fifth inning, his first multi-homer game since August 12, 2021 with the Orioles.
DJ Stewart does it again! His third home run in the last two games last puts the Mets up 6-2!
pic.twitter.com/F5u5lAR6jM— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) August 16, 2023
“What kept me going was getting back to the big leagues, ” Stewart said after the game. “This game is unbelievable, I don’t take it for granted playing at the big league level … I have a little girl, diapers aren’t cheap, so that’s what keeps me going.”
Pete Alonso joined Stewart’s home run barrage, hitting a solo-shot for his 36th home run of the year in the seventh inning. The homer was Alonso’s 469th career RBI, giving him sole possession of 10th on the Mets’ all-time RBI list by breaking a tie with Keith Hernandez.
Pete blasts his 36th homer of the year!
pic.twitter.com/9TxDGfNYRc— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) August 16, 2023
Francisco Lindor drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the first inning, giving him 72 RBIs on the year. He trails just Corey Seager (73) and Bobby Witt Jr. (76) for the MLB RBI lead amongst shortstops. As a Met, Lindor has hit an incredible .487 with the bases loaded (19-for-39) with 54 RBIs.
Brandon Nimmo also stayed hot, driving in a run with an RBI single in the fourth inning, and Rafael Ortega added an RBI single of his own in the seventh.
While it was by no means a dominant outing for Megill, he pitched well enough to earn his seventh win of the season and first win in two months. Over five innings, the Mets’ starter allowed five hits and four walks, but he struck out five and held the Pirates to just two runs.
The Mets played terrific defense behind Megill throughout his five innings of work. The biggest defensive play came in the fifth inning when Jack Suwinski lined a double down the right field line. With Andrew McCutchen attempting to score from first, Stewart and Jeff McNeil combined for a perfect relay to get McCutchen at the plate for the third out.
DJ Stewart and Jeff McNeil combine for a perfect relay to gun down Andrew McCutchen and keep the Pirates off the board in the 5th!
pic.twitter.com/WrT2mhyjFg— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) August 16, 2023
Megill was also aided by a pair of diving plays by Alonso, taking an RBI hit away from Connor Joe and a base hit from Endy Rodríguez, and a brilliant throw by Jonathan Araúz on a ball hit to his right by Bryan Reynolds.
After Phil Bickford allowed a run in the sixth inning, the Mets’ bullpen shut the door to close out the win. Brooks Raley, Trevor Gott and Adam Ottavino all threw scoreless innings, with the only baserunner allowed was a one-out walk by Ottavino in the ninth.
Player of the Game: DJ Stewart
Stewart did it all for the Mets in their win on Wednesday afternoon. The Mets’ right fielder went 2-for-4 at the plate, had his third career multi-home run game, drove in three runs, and added his first outfield assist of the year. After hitting just one home run in his first 23 games as a Met, Stewart added three more homers in just a five at-bat span in the series win. His second home run of the day was his first hit against a left-handed pitcher of the year and just his second-career homer against a left-hander.
The former first-round pick has had a productive tenure with the Mets, slashing .234/.339/.532 over 25 games.
On Deck
The Mets will begin a four-game series at Busch Stadium with the Cardinals on Thursday night at 7:15 p.m. ET. Jose Quintana (0-4, 3.03 ERA) will start for the Mets against Adam Wainwright (3-7, 8.78 ERA) for the Cardinals.
After beginning the 2022 season with the Pirates, Quintana was traded to St. Louis midseason. In 12 starts for the Cardinals, he pitched to a 2.01 ERA over 62 2/3 innings.
The game will be broadcasted on FOX, and the radio call will be on WCBS 880.
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