Mets Edge Pirates in Nail-Biting Finish

While the Pirates are not exactly a powerhouse in MLB, they had an opportunity against the Mets thanks to a strong arm on the mound for six innings on Monday night.

Then, it was Paul Skenes’s turn.

Following that, the Mets rallied in the latter stages against a formidable bullpen, which has become their typical pattern this season.

They notched two runs in the seventh and managed to survive a tense ninth inning, securing a 4-3 victory with a walk-off sacrifice fly from Pete Alonso.

The key moment in the rally came when Francisco Lindor capitalized on an error by Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, allowing him to reach base. Juan Soto then advanced him to third with a well-placed single, and Alonso sent a deep fly ball to right field.

Lindor’s misplay contributed to the Pirates tying the game at 3-3 in the ninth after Huascar Brazobán let a single get away. Following a fine play by Ke’Bryan Hayes, Brazobán faltered, leading to a double play from Brian Reynolds to wrap up the inning.

Last year’s NL Rookie of the Year pitched well, yielding just one run over six innings before exiting after 92 pitches with the Pirates leading 2-1.

Things got tense again in the eighth when Acuña sprinted home from second base due to a fielding blunder by Alonso. He narrowly avoided the tag from Joey Bart, extending the Mets’ hope for victory.

In the eighth, Bart challenged Dedniel Núñez, hitting a drive into left field, but Nemo made a great catch, preserving the Mets’ lead.

David Peterson matched Skenes’ solid performance, allowing only two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and three walks in his six innings. He gave up a home run in the second inning after facing two walks in the first.

Before the game, Kiner-Falefa received a charcoal drawing from Scott, the son of the legendary Mets broadcaster Ralph Kiner, marking a special moment for him as he met Kiner’s relatives for the first time.

Jeff McNeil tied the game with an RBI double in the fourth, while Nemo doubled in that same inning and McNeil scored. However, Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty were unable to convert, ending the scoring threat.

Despite the Pirates putting two runners on base in the fifth, Peterson managed to get out of trouble by striking out Reynolds—after Kiner-Falefa’s home run, he retired ten straight batters until Jared Triolo’s double broke that streak.

Andrew McCutchen and Kiner-Falefa added singles in the sixth, but Peterson struck out Canalio to keep the game tied at 1-1.

The Mets fell short in the sixth, with Alvarez hitting into a double play after a promising start with Mark Vientos’s double and a walk to McNeil.

Peterson was taken out after walking three batters to start the seventh inning.

Jose Bato’s advancement and a fielder’s choice by Reynolds gave the Pirates a brief 2-1 lead.

Ferguson then struck out Tyrone Taylor, who had reached base, yet Taylor managed to steal second and advanced to third on Acuña’s infield single. Soto’s subsequent hit tied the game 2-2, setting up Alonso’s crucial single that propelled the Mets to a lead late in the game.