Mets Cruise Past Pirates In Series Opener

by Zane Heiple

Photo by AP

The Pittsburgh Pirates headed to the Big Apple to take on the New York Mets in a four game series.  The Buccos were looking to continue their road success not only on the season, but on this road trip after taking two of three from the Chicago Cubs.  To start this series Pittsburgh would send Charlie Morton to the mound in hopes that he would continue his great pitching of 2011.  The Mets countered with right hander Dillion Gee.

Morton did not have the best game of his year.  He would go six innings, but gave up three runs, one earned, on eleven hits while striking out four and not walking a batter.  After the Pirates took a two run lead in the top of the second on a Chris Snyder two run home run, the Mets were able to tie in the bottom part.  With runners on second and third, a passed ball by Snyder allowed the runner from third to score.  A soft single that would go between the pitcher’s mound and third base by Ruben Tejada allowed Angel Pagan to tie it up.

The Metropolitans struck again with one run in the fifth.  Justin Turner would be hit by a pitch and then come around to score after three straight singles by the Mets.  Pittsburgh was able to tie the game at three in the seventh when Lyle Overbay scored on a Ronny Cedeno ground out to third.

Daniel McCutchen came out of the bullpen for the Buccos and New York jumped on him as well.  D-Cutch would walk the first batter, give up a single to the next batter, give up a sac fly, and then give up a two run double to Josh Thole.  This would mark the end of McCutchen’s day, as Daniel Moskos would collect the final two outs of the seventh. 

New York’s offense was not done however.  With reliever Jose Ascanio on the hill, Turner would crush a RBI double of f the left centerfield wall.  After a single by Carlos Beltran put runners on first and third, Daniel Murphy would ground into a force out at second that scored Turner from third.

Francisco Rodriguez came in and closed the door on the Buccos to give the Mets a 7-3 win tonight.  This game had a bad vibe all night.  The New York bats were finding holes in the Pittsburgh defense, the Pirates offense was back to its usual stagnate self, and the pitching was unable to shut down the Mets offense in key situations.  Hopefully this was just a one game thing and the Buccos were just a little worn out from the flight out of Chicago.  These two teams will battle in game two tomorrow night at 7:10.

On a side note, both Ryan Doumit and Steve Pearce were placed on the 15-day disabled list because of injuries suffered during the Cubs series.  Doumit has been solid in his role this year and Pearce was getting most of the playing time at third with Pedro Alvarez out.  Dusty Brown and Josh Harrison were called up from AAA Indianapolis to take their places on the 25 man roster.  It was also noted that Ross Ohlendorf was moved from the 15 to 60-day DL.  Check fansfromthestands.com tomorrow for a Meet Your Bucs article on Brown and Harrison.

Record vs. Mets:  0-1
Record vs. N.L. East:  2-8
Record on the Road:  15-14
Overall Record:  24-28

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!!!