NEW YORK (AP) – Pete Alonso hit a homer with three runs and Francisco Lindor beat New York’s first Grand Slam of the season during a sixth inning with ten runs, and the Mets embarrassed the Pittsburgh Pirates 13-4 Friday night.
One night after being postponed for the second time in a week, New York won for the fifth time in seven games. Friday’s matchup was delayed by 41 minutes as lightning, thunder and heavy rain covered Citi Field, with one missing in the lower round of 16.
Taijuan Walker allowed two runs over five innings and was informed after the game by manager Luis Rojas that he would be accepted into the National League All-Star team. The Mets are unbeaten in his eight home starts.
The NL-Ost-Führer prevailed against Pirates starter JT Brubaker (4-9) in sixth and led with a single by Brandon Nimmo and a full-count walk by Lindor. Dominic Smith singled, Nimmo scored and broke a 2-all tie.
After a brief visit from the pitching trainer, Alonso smashed one in the immediate vicinity of the Pittsburgh Bullpen and chased Brubaker.
Most of the 20,350 in attendance rose as Alonso forcefully pumped his fist between first and second bases, making his 16th home run of the season, but only his second at home.
The Mets kept charging against the pirates’ bullpen. Sam Howard loaded the bases on two walks and one single. The wild left-hander with punch hitter Jose Peraza met Jeff McNeil. Then he went with Nimmo and put on Michael Conforto before being lifted for Kyle Keller.
Lindor lined Keller’s 1-0 fastball just above the left midfield wall and extended the lead to 12-2 with his 10th homer and his third Grand Slam.
Aaron Loup (3-0) threw a goalless sixth place for the win.
After an easy 10-pitch first inning, New York starter Taijuan Walker started the next frame by loading the bases. The big right-hander then lightly struck Michael Perez in the thigh to hit Ben Gamel, giving Pittsburgh an early lead.
Hitting left-handed, Jonathan Villar lined Brubaker’s first pitch of the third inning for a solo homer. James McCann followed up the field with a soft single and later hit first when Nimmo put a double in the gap.
Villar added another solo shot in the seventh hitting righty, his eighth of the season and RBI’s 300th career. He became the tenth player in franchise history to make Homer in the same game from either side of the plate.
Pirates All-Star Adam Frazier had a game-defining RBI single in the fifth game.
Pinch hit rookie Rodolfo Castro scored a solo homer in the seventh against Mets’ reliever Nick Tropeano for his first career hit.
Pittsburgh’s John Nogowski had three hits and became the first pirate to score 10 hits in his first four games with the team, one more than Maurice Van Robays in 1939, according to STATS.
FAMILIAR FACES
Friday’s tilt was the first of seven consecutive games scheduled between the two teams, a stretch that includes a three-game set in Pittsburgh the next weekend.
CHANGE OF SIDES
New York urged right-handed Geoff Hartlieb from Pittsburgh waivers. He was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
TRAINER ROOM
Pirates: RHP Duane Underwood Jr. (right-hand complaint) has been retroactive to July 8th on the 10-day IL. LHP Austin Davis was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis and appeared relieved. … LHP Steven Brault (strained left lat) is due to start a rehab at Low-A Bradenton on Sunday.
Mets: RHP Carlos Carrasco (hamstring strain) attended the pitchers’ field training session Friday afternoon and could start a rehab assignment next week, Rojas said. … 3B / LF JD Davis (sprained left hand) continued his rehab assignment at Syracuse and went through 0 for 1 with two walks in Scranton / Wilkes-Barre.
NEXT
Pirates: LHP Tyler Anderson (4-8, 4.39 ERA) starts the first game of a single admission doubleheader on Saturday. Rookie right-hander Max Kranick is on the team but was not on the roster for Friday’s action. He can be activated as the 27th man to start the twin beak’s second game.
Mets: RHP Marcus Stroman (6-6, 2.60 ERA) gets the record in the opener, while RHP Tylor Megill (0-0, 3.77 ERA) gets the nod in the nightcap.
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