Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) – David Wright hit a three-run homer to back five strong innings by Jon Niese, as the Mets beat the Pirates, 5-1, in a rain-shortened contest from PNC Park.
Niese (8-5) gave up one run on five hits and a walk, and struck out five to take the win in the middle contest of this three-game series. The game was initially delayed in the top of the sixth before being called final.
New York beat Pittsburgh on Friday, and Saturday’s win gives the Mets their first road series victory against a National League team this season.
James McDonald (2-3) allowed five runs on six hits and five walks in five innings to take the loss for the Pirates, who have dropped five in a row and 12 of 13.
“He’s going to be pretty good,” Pirates manager John Russell said of the 25- year-old McDonald. “He’s got three pitches, he didn’t have his best stuff tonight and he still managed to pitch pretty well, with the exception of the three-run homer.”
Andrew McCutchen doubled twice and scored Pittsburgh’s lone run.
Jose Reyes began the game with a double and moved to third on Angel Pagan’s bunt single. Two batters later, Chris Carter struck out, but catcher Chris Snyder needed to throw to first to make the out. Reyes raced home on the play and was called safe on a play at the plate to give the Mets a 1-0 lead.
The Pirates evened the game in the third, when McCutchen hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a bunt and scored on Neil Walker’s base hit to left.
A sacrifice fly from Ruben Tejada in the fourth put the Mets back in front, and they took control in the fifth, when Wright’s three-run shot to left- center made it a 5-1 contest.
“That was a big home run for David. I thought for him to hit that three-run homer, that was huge,” said Mets manager Jerry Manuel. “He’s gotten some hits here and there, but to produce in that manner in that situation, to kind of put the game where it needed to be, that was very, very big.”
Niese got through the bottom half, and Daniel McCutchen took the mound for Pittsburgh in the sixth. Reyes led off with a single before the tarp was brought on the field.
The Mets’ last road series win against an NL team was last season, when they took two of three from the Marlins from September 25-27…McCutchen’s two doubles gave him 50 for his career.