Pittsburgh Pirates earn much needed win over Mets

After losing two out of three games to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pittsburgh Pirates (67-46) looked to bounce back, starting off fresh in the Big Apple, when the New York Mets (63-53) hosted in the Pirates for the three game weekend series. The game was a defensive struggle, but Pittsburgh took the game in extras by final score of 3-2. The winning pitcher of the game was the Pirates Arquimedes Caminero (3-1), and Mark Melancon picked up the save, for his 36th save of the season.

In the top of the first inning, Neil Walker homered of Mets’ starter Bartolo Colon, to right field to give Pittsburgh the early 1-0 lead. The home run is Walker’s 12th for the season putting him in fourth place for the team, behind Starling Marte, Pedro Alvarez, and Andrew McCutchen.

In the bottom of the sixth, Yoenis Céspedes homered of Pirates starter J.A. Happ to put the New York on the board and the game at 1-all.

In extras, top of the tenth inning, Marte on third, Gregory Polanco singled to deep center, scoring Marte, giving the Pirates the 2-1 lead. Later in the inning, with Francisco Cervelli on third, Aramis Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Cervelli, and giving Pittsburgh the 3-1 lead.

Later, in the bottom of the 10th, with Melancon on the mound, with Juan Lagares on third, Curtis Granderson hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Lagares, cutting into the Pirates lead. Melancon, though, picked up the save, as Pittsburgh won by the 3-2 final.

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Even though the Pirates won over the Mets tonight, National League Central rival St. Louis Cardinals picked up the win tonight, as well, over the Miami Marlins. Pittsburgh, still, currently sits back six games of rival Cardinals.

What Stood Out

Coming off the 2-1 series loss to St. Louis, the Pirates defense looked strong, holding the Mets to only two runs all night.

What’s Next

On Saturday, Pittsburgh sends Charlie Morton (7-4) to the mound opposite New York’s Jonathon Niese (7-9). Last time out versus the Dodgers, Morton allowed five runs off ten hits in five innings pitched. Last time out versus Colorado, Niese allowed two runs off six hits in seven innings pitched.

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