Many saw the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation and thought that the team would be swept by the New York Mets. Instead it was the other way around, as the Pirates won 8-1 Sunday afternoon, securing their major league-leading 13th sweep of the season.
The Mets came into the series losing just twice since acquiring Yoenis Cespedes.
The starting pitcher trio of J.A. Happ, Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke allowed four earned runs in 17 innings while striking out 21 batters.
Arquimedes Caminero [4-1] won his second game of the series and it is the 16th consecutive decision won by Pirates relievers. This is the longest streak in major league history since the 1909 Pirates team had 22.
This is the first time the Pirates have swept a season series against the Mets in team history. The sweep is also the first in New York since April 16-18, 2004 and the first time the Pirates have had 13 sweeps in a season since 1991.
This game saw a 41-minute rain delay after which the Pirates outscored the Mets 7-0.
Jeff Locke got the start and was given some run support early with Pedro Alvarez hitting a second-inning home run, a solo shot, his 18th of the season. Alvarez now has nine home runs on the road and eight in day games.
Locke quickly gave up the lead, allowing a Travis D’Arnaud home run to left field which tied the game.
In the sixth inning Locke allowed a one-out single and hit Michael Cuddyer with a pitch. Manager Clint Hurdle removed Locke from the game as the rain started to hit Citi Field. Caminero entered the game with the loud sound of thunder interrupting his outing. Quickly the umpires pulled the players off the field.
Caminero warmed up again in the bullpen and retired the two batters he faced in the sixth inning.
Bobby Parnell [1-3] lost for the second time this series.
He opened his seventh inning appearance walking Pedro Florimon. Pinch-hitter Michael Morse grounded out to Parnell who threw over the bag to second base. Despite neither of the middle infielders standing over the bag, Parnell was charged with an error.
Gregory Polanco then stepped in and once again made quick work of his at-bat hitting a single to center field to plate the go-ahead run. Two batters later, pinch-runner Sean Rodriguez scored on a Parnell wild pitch. Parnell then walked Neil Walker. Aramis Ramirez then singled making the score 4-1, and ending Parnell’s afternoon.
Eric O’Flaherty then allowed an opposite field single to Alvarez scoring another run.
Antonio Bastardo pitched two innings and struck out four batters lowering his ERA to 3.15. Bastardo, has been scored on once in his past 11.1 innings of work.
The Pirates were not done as Rodriguez recorded a one-out double, his seventh of the season. Starling Marte singled in Rodriguez and Ramirez doubled in two more runs. Ramirez had four hits in the game, his first four-hit game since Aug. 27, 2012 against the Pirates as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Pirates outscored the Mets 37-10 in this series.
For the first time in August and 10th time this season, both the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs lost Sunday afternoon. This places the Pirates five games behind in the National League Central and 2.5 games ahead for the top spot in the NL Wild Card race.
Following the 4-2 road trip, the Pirates return to PNC Park for a seven-game homestand against National League West opponents. This starts with a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Gerrit Cole [14-6 2.48 ERA] will face Jeremy Helickson [8-8 4.73 ERA]. Cole is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA in two career starts against the Diamondbacks. The Pirates swept a series in Arizona earlier in the season.
Of note: Josh Harrison, Jordy Mercer and Rob Scahill continued their rehab assignments with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. Harrison went 0-for-4 [reached base by error] at the plate and Mercer 0-for-3. Scahill had a one inning, 18-pitch relief appearance and gave up a run on one hit. Tyler Glasnow earned a no-decision in the game throwing five shutout innings… Indians manager Dean Treanor is now the first manager in team history to have five consecutive winning seasons. Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington stated on his 93.7 The Fan radio show that the team has reached out to representatives of Travis Snider. Snider who was traded by the team in the off-season was released by the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend.
Photo credit: Seth Wenig/AP Photo
