NEW YORK (AP) – Luis Robert Jr. hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning, securing a 4-2 victory for the New York Mets against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.
The Mets improved to 2-0 for the season following a prior win against the Pirates, while Luis Torrens contributed a tying single in the 10th on his first swing of the season.
Game Highlights
Both starting pitchers, Mitch Keller and David Peterson, showcased strong performances, preventing any runs in the initial innings amid 42-degree weather. Nick Gonzales of the Pirates broke the scoreless tie with an RBI single in the 10th.
Mets reliever Luis Garcia managed to escape a bases-loaded situation by retiring Jake Mangum, thus keeping the game within reach for the Mets.
Crucial Moments
In the 11th inning, Bryan Reynolds put the Pirates ahead again with an infield single, but Richard Lovelady struck out Gonzales to limit the damage. The Mets responded in the bottom half with a walk from Jorge Polanco.
With automatic runner Bo Bichette on second base, Robert hit a slider over the left-center fence, marking his first homer with the Mets and the second walk-off of his career. Robert had already impressed in his New York debut with two RBI singles in the previous game.
Pitching Performance
Pittsburgh struggled offensively, finishing 2 for 18 with runners in scoring position and leaving 17 players on base. Mangum’s ninth-inning double was the only extra-base hit until Robert’s decisive homer.
Peterson, the longest-tenured player on the Mets roster after an offseason overhaul, allowed six singles and two walks over 5 1/3 innings, while Keller delivered an impressive outing, yielding just three singles and no walks across six innings.
Looking Ahead
The Mets will send rookie right-hander Nolan McLean, who has a 5-1 record and a 2.06 ERA, to the mound for his season debut on Sunday, while the Pirates will counter with right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski, who holds a 5-8 record with a 3.55 ERA.