8/15/23- By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on Twitter
Pirates bats struggled to get much going against the Mets bullpen in the first game of this series. In game 2, they made sure to capitalize.
Mets got on the board first tonight after a Brandon Nimmo lead-off homer, his second long-ball in as many days, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning. The lead wouldn’t hold for even a batter into the 2nd inning as Liover Peguero took a 1-2 fastball from Mets starter, David Peterson, and deposited it quickly into the left center field seats.
Bailey Falter started just his third game for the Pirates since being acquired at the trade deadline and posted his best start yet, dealing for 5.1 innings allowing just 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk and striking out 5. One of those strikeouts: A foul tip that catcher Jason Delay managed to hold onto in a unique way.
Peterson didn’t last nearly as long for New York, throwing 91 pitches in just 3.2 innings of work before handing it over to the bullpen – where the Bucs were finally able to break-through.
Jose Butto took over for Peterson, going 2.2 innings and started the 7th inning. Andrew McCutchen led off with a walk and advanced to third following a Connor Joe double to left. Peguero drew a 1-out walk to load the bases. Butto was pulled for Grant Hartwig, who immediately walked pinch-hitter Jack Suwinski on 4 pitches to score the go-ahead run. Jared Triolo was then hit by a pitch to score another run. A third run of the inning scored on a passed ball by Mets catcher, Francisco Alvarez. Delay doubled home 2 more runs and Bryan Reynolds tripled him home as the Bucs put up 6 runs in the inning.
Colin Selby relieved Falter in the 6th and got Pete Alonso to hit into an inning-ending double play but ran into some trouble in the 7th. Alvarez led off with a walk and, following a Jeff McNeil strikeout, Selby gave up back-to-back home runs to DJ Stewart and Jonathan Arauz, shrinking the lead to a 7-4 score.
Angel Perdomo came on in relief to get a strikeout for the final out of the 7th inning, Colin Holderman shut down the 8th and David Bednar bounced back to complete the save, his 25th in 28 chances this season.
News & Notes
- Selby notched his first win of his MLB career.
- Jack Suwinski pinch hit for Josh Palacios in the 7th inning, who was removed for a reported “gastrointestinal illness.”
- Ke’Bryan Hayes continues his hot streak, now 13-for-31 with 6 extra-base hits over the past week.
- Afternoon game for the rubber match tomorrow as Johan Oviedo faces Tyler Megill. First pitch is 1:10PM. Let’s Go Bucs!
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