PITTSBURGH — Luis Torrens wouldn’t have been in the Mets’ starting lineup Saturday if Francisco Alvarez had been healthy, but the team’s starting catcher was still in pain.
In a scary moment the night before, Alvarez was hit in the left elbow by a 99 mph fastball from Paul Skenes.
Alvarez remained in the bout and X-rays afterward were negative but he was rested for most of Saturday.
Torrens, who joined the Mets in a trade with the Yankees in May, has been one of the best additions they’ve made this season.
Torrence provided the offensive punch the Mets have come to expect from Alvarez, blasting three hits, including a three-run double, in a 5-2 win over the Pirates at PNC Park.
The Mets snapped a three-game losing streak on the day Edwin Diaz returned from a 10-game suspension for violating MLB’s rules regarding sticky substances.
Diaz pitched the ninth inning without allowing a run for the save.
But it was Torrens’ bat that was the most powerful.
In addition to a bases-loaded double that led to the Mets scoring in the bottom of the third inning, he also contributed to the Mets’ run with a two-run single in the sixth inning.
The night before, Torrens was called to the mound and struck out the only batter he faced in the eighth inning of a 14-2 loss to the Pirates.
On this day, David Peterson was replaced in preparation for his third batting appearance in the Pirates lineup.
The left-hander pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing five hits, two walks, striking out five and allowing two earned runs.
This was his shortest appearance of the season, tying his record since the game against the Yankees on June 25.
After facing bases loaded and no outs in the third inning, Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter left the game with what the team later diagnosed as discomfort in the back of his left arm.
Former Mets relief pitcher Dennis Santana came to the mound and struck out Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos before Torrens hit a bases-loaded double to give the Mets a 3-0 lead.
In this inning, Francisco Lindor and JD Martinez each reached base on walks, sandwiched between a single by Brandon Nimmo.
O’Neill Cruz hit a two-run homer off Peterson in the fourth inning to put the Pirates up 3-2.
Nick Gonzalez led off the inning with a double, but Peterson’s second base interception resulted in the first out.
After getting another out, Peterson walked Joey Bart and then gave up a home run by Cruz that hit the right field pole and ricocheted into the Allegheny River.
Jose Iglesias hit a one-run double in the sixth inning, followed by a sacrifice fly by Harrison Bader to extend the Mets’ lead to 5-2.
Vientos and Torrens hit back-to-back singles with one out to start the comeback.
After Iglesias’ double, a diving catch by left fielder Bryan Reynolds prevented Bader from getting a hit, but he still scored from third base.
Jose Bhutto tossed 1 ²/₃ scoreless innings, before Reid Garrett got the ball out of the way in the seventh.
Garrett walked Andrew McCutchen and Reynolds in succession to load the bases, then Lindor made a running catch to get Ke’Bryan Hayes out for the second out.
Garrett was behind 3-1 in the count against the next batter, Jack Swinski, and threw a pitch below the strike zone that Swinski hit for what he thought was his fourth pitch.
Umpire John Tampane called it a strike, and Pirates manager Derek Shelton was ejected for disputing the call.
Swinski struck out swinging on the next pitch, loading the bases.
Dedniel Nunez pitched a perfect eighth inning before the Mets handed the ball to Diaz for the ninth.
Alvarez also pitched, giving Diaz a familiar target behind the catcher.
Diaz struck out Cruz, then struck out Rowdy Tellez and got a hit from McCutchen, setting up a game-ending double play.
