Luis Severino and three relievers combined on a five-hitter Wednesday afternoon for the host New York Mets, who beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-1 to complete a three-game sweep.
Starling Marte and Harrison Bader both hit two-run homers while Tyrone Taylor and Brandon Nimmo each had two-run singles for the Mets, who have won 10 of 13. Francisco Alvarez had an RBI fielder’s choice in the eighth. Taylor finished with three hits.
Bryan Reynolds delivered a run-scoring infield single for the Pirates, who have lost six of eight. Oneil Cruz had a pair of singles.
Severino (2-1) gave up an unearned run on five hits and three walks while striking out four over a season-high six innings. Jorge Lopez, Jake Diekman and Grant Hartwig tossed a perfect inning apiece.
Pirates starter Bailey Falter (1-1) allowed two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out four over five innings.
The Pirates took a brief lead in unusual fashion in the third.
Henry Davis led off by reaching when catcher’s interference was called on Alvarez and advanced to second on an single by Alika Williams. Davis moved to third when Cruz hit into a double play and scored on Reynolds’ infield single to shortstop, which was vacated in the shift.
The Mets, who overcame deficits in wins Monday and Tuesday night, responded in the bottom half, when Zack Short drew a leadoff walk before Marte homered with one out.
New York added insurance in the sixth against Hunter Stratton. Francisco Lindor led off with a single and Pete Alonso walked before both runners advanced on Jeff McNeil’s bunt. After Alvarez popped out, Taylor laced a two-run single before Bader homered to left.
Alonso walked leading off the eighth, went to third on McNeil’s double and scored when he beat the throw home on Alvarez’s grounder to second. Four batters later, Nimmo laced his two-run single.
–Field Level Media