Mets Vs. Pirates, Game 3: Jon Niese Rebounds Nicely In 3-1 Win

The New York Mets beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon behind a stellar pitching performance from Jon Niese for their third win in four tries.

Niese bounced back from his worst start of the season to allow one run on five hits over 7 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking two. He had surrendered eight runs last week during a 14-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bobby Parnell threw a crucial strike out for the Mets to end the eighth inning with runners on second and third, and Frank Francisco pitched a perfect ninth for the save.

David Wright had an RBI double for the Mets, but he was just 1 for 4 at the plate as his batting average dropped below .400 to .399.

For more on the Mets, please be sure to check out our blog Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Mets (23-20) At Pirates (20-23) Preview: Game Time, TV, Probable Pitchers

The New York Mets will try to secure a series win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park.

After losing the first game in brutal fashion largely in part to Mike Baxter forgetting his center fielder, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, has the right to a fly ball, the Mets bounced back.

They won 3-2 on Tuesday behind R.A. Dickey striking out 11 batters and a Pedro Alvarez error that allowed the winning run to score.

Jon Niese will start the rubber game while he tries to forget his last outing. Niese lasted only three innings against the Toronto Blue Jays after giving up eight runs (all earned). He comes into Wednesday sporting a 2-2 record with a 4.85 ERA.

Charlie Morton has the ball for the Pirates. He has a 2-4 mark but a slightly better ERA at 4.35. Morton starts today on the heels of surrendering four runs in six frames in a losing effort against the Detroit Tigers.

After this game, New York starts a major 10-game homestand against the San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals.

TV: SNY

Time: 12:35 p.m. ET

For more on the Mets, please be sure to check out our blog Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Mets 3, Pirates 2: R.A. Dickey Strikes Out Career-High 11 In Victory

R.A. Dickey struck out a career-high 11 in seven innings of work during the New York Mets' 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night at PNC Park. Dickey (6-1) gave up just five hits and one earned run to help tie the three-game series at one win apiece. The Mets improved to 22-20 on the season.

Pirates starter James McDonald also had a solid night on the mound. He struck out eight and gave up four hits and just one earned run in his seven innings of work. The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a Mike Nickeas single to score Daniel Murphy.

Dickey's lone earned run didn't come until the sixth inning when Andrew McCutchen hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at game at 1-1. The Mets responded in eighth inning. Lucas Duda hit an RBI single off losing pitcher Juan Cruz (1-1) to score Mike Baxter. Murphy followed up with a ground ball into a fielder's choice bringing Kirk Nieuwenhuis home and putting the Mets up 3-1.

The Pirates came back with a run earned off of Jon Rauch in the eighth inning. Tim Byrdak replaced Rauch to help the Mets out of the inning, however, and Frank Francisco earned his 11th save of the season by working a perfect ninth to preserve the 3-2 win.

Game 3 at PNC Park will pit Jonathan Niese (2-2, 4.85 ERA) and Charlie Morton (2-4, 4.35) against each other on the mound at 12:35 p.m. ET.

For more on the Mets, stay tuned to Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York.

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Mets (22-20) At Pirates (20-22) Preview: Game Time, TV, Probable Pitchers

A night after letting Game 1 of a three-game series of the Pittsburgh Pirates slip away, the New York Mets will turn to knuckle-baller R.A. Dickey to earn a victory in Game 2 (7:05 p.m. ET on SNY). Dickey (5-1, 3.75 ERA) will be looking to collect his quality starter streak to six games, as he opposes the Pirates' James McDonald (3-2, 2.68 ERA).

On Monday, the Mets (22-20) dropped their sixth game in nine tries as it blew a late lead in a 5-4 loss to Pittsburgh (20-22). Dickey seems to be the right guy to stop the recent bad play, as he's collected 19 quality starts in his last 20 games.

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Mets 4, Pirates 5: Pittsburgh Wins Game 1 Of Series In 8th Inning

The New York Mets lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-4, on Monday night in the opening game of their three-game series. Johan Santana gave up four earned runs, and eight hits with seven strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings on the mound. Jon Rauch (3-3) was given the loss after giving up the winning run on a Clint Barmes sacrifice fly to score Neil Walker in the eighth inning.

The Mets scored all four of their runs in the second inning. Ronny Cedeno doubled to deep right center to score Vinny Rottino and put New York on the board, 1-0. Justin Turner hit a two-run single with two outs, then David Wright followed him up at the plate with a one-run single to give the Mets a 4-0 lead.

A critical play in the game occurred in the eighth inning when Mets center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis and left fielder Mike Baxter nearly collided chasing a fly ball that went for a three-base error and helped Pittsburgh score the winning run.

Jared Hughes (1-0) got the win in relief for Pittsburgh

For more on the Mets, stay tuned to Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York.

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