After a four-game split with the Washington Nationals, the New York Mets‘ road trip continued as they headed to the City of Bridges for a four-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
After the blue and orange took an early 2-0 lead, the Pirates responded with 14 unanswered runs and hit so many home runs (seven) that PNC Park ran out of fireworks.
A bases-clearing double from Luis Torrens in the top of the third would be all the Mets would need as they won game two 5-2.
The orange and blue were down to their last out in game three before Francisco Lindor hit a two-RBI single to give the Mets the lead, and they took game three 3-2.
After Christian Scott exited the game after allowing just one hit through 5.2 innings, the Mets bullpen collapsed as the Pirates scored five runs and captured game four 8-2.
3 Takeaways from the Mets’ series split with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Sean Manaea’s resurgence continues
Sean Manaea’s recent resurgence continued when the 32-year-old took the bump in the Keystone State.
Manaea went six strong innings, allowing two hits and three walks without giving up a run while striking out six.
The Indiana native is a prime candidate to go at this year’s deadline regardless of the Mets’ success and is setting up for the organization to receive quite a haul.
Mark Vientos is struggling to make contact
Mark Vientos has a stranglehold on the third base position and put up solid numbers in the series against the Pirates, going 4-for-12 with a run scored, but a recent flaw has emerged. Vientos struck out six times against the Pirates and has 10 strikeouts over the last 10 games.
As pitchers begin to face and adjust to the 24-year-old, Vientos needs to adapt, or his strikeout totals could continue to climb.
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Adrian Houser falters in new role
Adrian Houser’s move to the bullpen has mainly been viewed as a success, but for the first time, the Oklahoma native entered with runners on and struggled.
Houser gave up three runs before getting out of the inning. The 31-year-old’s final line was 2.1 innings, five hits, the aforementioned three runs and two strikeouts.
It appears the Oklahoma native isn’t quite ready to come in with runners on, and Carlos Mendoza should adapt accordingly.
