Pirates 3, Mets 2 (11): Jordy Mercer wristed an RBI single up the middle with two outs in the 11th inning as host Pittsburgh won its second in a row following a four-game losing skid.
Andrew McCutchen worked a walk to lead off the final frame against Gonzalez Germen (0-1), who was making his major-league debut. McCutchen stole second base as Pedro Alvarez struck out before Russell Martin was intentionally walked. Hitless in four at-bats, Mercer jumped on a fastball and sent it past diving shortstop Omar Quintanilla to easily plate McCutchen as the Pirates improved to 7-5 in extra-inning games.
Mercer's heroics made a winner of Vin Mazzaro (5-2), who struck out a pair in the 11th inning.
After the PNC Park faithful booed New York's David Wright for his initial snub of Alvarez in the upcoming Home Run Derby, the latter flexed his muscles with a two-run homer in the first inning. Alvares' 24th blast - and second in three contests - extended his hitting streak to nine games.
Wright increased his hitting streak to 12 games with a two-out double in the third inning. He plated Eric Young Jr. with a bloop single in the sixth before Kirk Nieuwenhuis homered with one out in the seventh for the Mets, who saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.
GAME NOTEBOOK: New York RHP Jeremy Hefner, who retired 14 batters in a row following Alvarez's homer, yielded two runs on three hits in seven innings. Despite throwing just 78 pitches, Hefner was taken out of the contest for a pinch hitter to lead off the eighth. ... Pittsburgh RHP Charlie Morton exited after allowing two runs on six hits in seven innings. ... New York OF Marlon Byrd went 0-for-5 to see his five-game hitting streak come to an end.
NY Mets | Pittsburgh | |
Jeremy Hefner | Player | Charlie Morton |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
7.0 | IP | 7.0 |
3 | Strikeouts | 4 |
3 | Hits | 6 |
2.57 | ERA | 2.57 |
NY Mets | Pittsburgh | |
Daniel Murphy | Player | Starling Marte |
2 | Hits | 2 |
0 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
2 | TB | 4 |
.400 | Avg | .500 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
NY Mets | 9 | 1 | 14 | .225 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Pittsburgh | 6 | 1 | 11 | .162 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 |