Mets takeaways from Saturday's 5-1 win against Pirates, including snapping seven-game losing streak
The Mets did almost everything right in support of Kodai Senga to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-1, and snap their seven-game losing streak.
Here are the takeaways…
- Kodai Senga has had problems with the walk all season and there was one inning where it popped up again. After getting through the first two innings relatively easy, he walked three consecutive batters with two outs, including the No. 9 hitter, to load the bases for Connor Joe. The right fielder took a 99 mph fastball over the heart of the plate deep to center field where Brandon Nimmo leapt to catch the ball at the wall. Nimmo would also rob Joe of a hit in the fifth, diving for the ball in front of him to end the inning.
After the third, Senga cruised through the Pirates lineup to the tune of seven strong innings. In addition to the seven innings (96 pitches/54 strikes), he gave up two hits, one unearned run, four walks and struck out six. It's Senga's first road win since April 20 against the San Francisco Giants. The rookie right-hander also lowered his ERA from 3.75 to 3.34.
- Nimmo was also money at the plate on Saturday. He led off the game with a single, but also drove in the game’s first run in the third, plating Tommy Pham. After today, Nimmo is 4-for-6 against Pirates starter Johan Oviedo. He finished 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.
- Poor defense from the Mets reared its ugly head again Saturday. In the fourth, with one out, Ke’Bryan Hayes grounded to Mark Canha at first base who tossed to Luis Guillorme. Guillorme seemingly lost the ball on the transfer, but the second base umpire called Jack Suwinski safe -- replay showed it was lost on the transfer but Buck Showalter didn’t challenge in time -- allowing him to go to third base. Ji Hwan Bae grounded to Jeff McNeil at second base, setting up an inning-ending double play, but he misplayed it allowing the ball to go to the outfield and tying the score at 1-1.
Canha would commit his own error after muffing a hopper to him that allowed Suwinski to reach with one out in the sixth. This time it didn't cost the Mets. New York had three errors on Saturday and five over the first two games of this series. There was some really good defense in the seventh by Canha and Guillorme that stole two hits and to keep Senga's start rolling.
- Canha would make up for his mistake in a big way. With two outs and men on first and second, Canha split the defenders for a two-run double to give the Mets a 3-1 lead in the seventh. Prior to that, the Mets were 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position. He'd add to his day with a two-out double in the ninth inning to score Pham from second and give the Mets a 5-1 lead. Pham, for his part, went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs. Over the last two weeks, Pham is slashing .400/.467/1.000 with eight extra-base hits in nine games with eight Runs, 12 RBI, three stolen bases and zero caught stealing.
- Francisco Alvarez launched his 12th homer of the season to give the Mets a 4-1 lead in the eighth inning. He finished 1-for-4. Alvarez is now tied for the most home runs by a catcher in the majors, tied with Salvador Perez (227 AB) and Sean Murphy (184 AB). Alvarez has done it in 136 ABs.
- After blowing the save in the final game of the Atlanta series, David Robertson pitched a clean eighth inning while striking out two. Adam Ottavino was called for the ninth and got the Pirates 1-2-3 with a strikeout. It's Ottavino's first scoreless outing in a week.
Highlights
What’s next
The Mets look to win the three-game series with the Pirates on Sunday at 1:35 p.m.
Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 5.94 ERA) will be on the mound for the Mets and he’ll go up against RHP Mitch Keller (7-2, 3.60 ERA).
