It took extra innings, however the Pittsburgh Pirates scored two runs to defeat the New York Mets by a 3-2 score in 10 innings Friday night.
The Pirates are the first National League opponent to defeat the Mets in a game since July 30 [San Diego Padres]. Additionally the Pirates have won their past six extra inning games. The team is also 19-8 against National League East opponents.
J.A. Happ told media throughout last homestand that he looked forward to getting the ball again and showing improvement. His turn in the rotation was skipped against the St. Louis Cardinals and this start was separated from his most recent appearance by 10 days.
Happ arguably turned in his best start since early June pitching 5.1 innings with the lone blemish on the scoreboard coming by way of a Yoenis Cespedes home run. Happ also struck out seven batters, his highest total since May 9.
“For the most part I threw with conviction and that’s why things went the way they did,” Happ said to reporters following the game. “I felt a bit more like myself with my delivery. I felt better out there for sure.”
Jared Hughes and Tony Watson do just about everything together. They are throwing partners, they sprint off the field following batting practice and they even have their assigned space in the team’s clubhouse next to each other. Watson pitched 1.2 innings in Thursday’s game and Hughes did the exact same putting the identical pitching line up as his teammate.
In the first inning, Neil Walker continued his streak from a game earlier hitting a one-out first-pitch home run to right-center field off Bartolo Colon. It was his 12th home run of the season.
Happ overcame a jam in which he allowed Juan Lagares and Curtis Granderson to get into scoring position with no outs. Happ got Cespedes to strike out on a foul tip, induced a pop up from Juan Uribe and concluded the inning with a strike out of Daniel Murphy.
The Pirates had an opportunity to add to their lead in the fourth inning with Andrew McCutchen on third base and one out. Pedro Alvarez however grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Cespedes homered on a 2-2 pitch to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning, his 20th of the season and second with the Mets. After Murphy recorded a one-out double manager Clint Hurdle quickly got Happ out of the game.
After Hughes put up zeros by finishing the sixth and seventh innings, Antonio Bastardo was tested however as Murphy had a hard hit ground ball that Alvarez had to make an above-average stop of to get the final out. Cespedes, who was on first base at the time ran prior to the pitch so Alvarez may have saved a run. In his seven appearances this month, Bastardo has allowed two hits in 21-at bats.
Alvarez made another heads-up play on defense in the ninth inning. Jung Ho Kang’s throw drew Alvarez off the first base bag and he attempted to make a tag on Wilmer Flores, the batter. Flores was ruled safe although Hurdle challenged the play and won.
Bobby Parnell [1-2] pitched the 10th inning for the Mets and allowed a leadoff single to Chris Stewart. Starling Marte then pinch-ran for Stewart while Francisco Cervelli came in to pinch-hit for Arquimedes Caminero [3-1] who pitched the ninth inning. Cervelli added a single and after a mound visit Gregory Polanco came up with another big late-game hit connecting for an RBI single. Parnell did not register an out before he was removed from the game.
Carlos Torres then came in and got an out before intentionally walking McCutchen. Aramis Ramirez stretched the Pirates lead to 3-1 with a sacrifice fly.
Mark Melancon attempted to close the game in the bottom of the 10th inning and allowed a leadoff double to Lagares. Lagares advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Granderson sacrifice fly. Melancon then retired the next two hitters to earn his major league-leading 36th save of the season.
Both the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs won Friday meaning the Pirates trail first place in the National League Central by six games but lead the race for the first wild card spot by 1.5 games.
This three-game series continues Saturday when Charlie Morton [7-4 4.48 ERA] takes on Jonathon Niese [7-9 3.46 ERA]. Morton is 0-3 with a 3.96 ERA in seven career games [six starts] against the Mets.
Of note: Rob Scahill got his rehab assignment moved to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. He threw a side session Friday and will be available out of the bullpen Saturday… This was Hurdle’s 400th career win as Pirates manager, the ninth to accomplish the feat.
Photo credit: Frank Franklin II/AP Photo
