Harrison Bader delivered a tiebreaking hit in the eighth inning for a second straight game on Monday, hitting a two-run double to highlight the New York Mets’ comeback from a three-run deficit en route to a 6-3 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Mets have won eight of 11 following an 0-5 start. The Pirates have lost four of six after a 9-2 start.
The teams traded three-run rallies in the sixth inning before the Mets went ahead in the eighth against Aroldis Chapman (0-1).
The left-hander struck out Francisco Alvarez to begin the inning, then fanned Jeff McNeil but allowed him to reach by uncorking a wild pitch on strike three. DJ Stewart followed with a walk, and McNeil and Stewart pulled off a double steal before they scored on Bader’s double to left.
Chapman was then ejected for arguing with plate umpire Edwin Moscoso.
After Roansy Contreras took over on the mound, Bader stole third and scored an insurance run when he beat the throw home on Brandon Nimmo’s grounder to second.
On Sunday, Bader beat out a bases-loaded infield single in the eighth inning to break a scoreless tie in the Mets’ 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals.
The eighth-inning rally on Monday made a winner of Adam Ottavino (1-0), who struck out two in a perfect eighth. Edwin Diaz earned his fourth save with a hitless ninth.
Alvarez began the Mets’ comeback by drawing a bases-loaded walk against Martin Perez in the sixth. McNeil followed with a flyout to right, but Connor Joe threw errantly toward home after having trouble getting the ball out of his glove, and Francisco Lindor scored. Stewart followed with a game-tying RBI double off Hunter Stratton.
Andrew McCutchen and Joe had RBI singles for the Pirates in the top of the sixth, and Jared Triolo added a sacrifice fly.
Lindor and Starling Marte had two hits apiece for New York, which had eight hits. Pittsburgh managed just three hits.
Mets starter Adrian Houser gave up two runs on two hits and five walks while striking out five over 5 1/3 innings.
Perez allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out one over 5 2/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
