Mets Rally To Beat Pirates 7-6 And Overcome Six-Run Deficit

Mets RF Michael Conforto and LF Dom Smith (Photo Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com) The New York Mets rallied from a six-run deficit in the bottom of the first inning to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh and improved their record to 48-42. The offense was held scorless for the first three innings until the top of the third after CF Brandon Nimmo led off with a walk and then two batters later 2B Jeff McNeil singled. 3B J.D. Davis struck out, but then LF Dom Smith came through after he reached on an infield hit which brought home a run. In the following inning, SS Jonathan Villar singled to lead off, catcher Tomas Nido followed with a single and then pinch-hitter Travis Blakenhorn got them right back in the game with a three-run homer. After a scoreless top of the fifth, McNeil walked with one out and then two batters later, Smith drove in McNeil with a RBI double. The bats went quiet for the next three inninga until the top of the ninth after Smith led off with a single and RF Michael Conforto came through with a game-winning two-run homer. RHP Tijuan Walker had a difficult outing in the bottom of the first inning and recorded only one out. Walker gave up a double, single, walk, double, walk, walk, single, and walk which led to six runs. He hurt himself definsively after SS Kevin Newman hit a grounder that rolled toward the foul line that Walker tried to push foul. The ball caught the line and was ruled fair. Walker argued that the ball was foul while the play was still going on, which led to three more runs. He then gave up a walk and was taken out. RHP Drew Smith had to come in to get the last two outs in the bottom of the first. Walker's final line was 0.1 of an inning, 4 hits, 6 runs (5 earned runs), 4 walks and 0 strikeouts. Smith stayed in and threw 2.2 scoreless innings. RHP Miguel Castro threw a scoreless bottom of the fourth inning. LHP Aaron Loup followed and had a scoreless bottom of the fifth. Loup stayed in for the bottom of the sixth and ran into trouble after he gave up two singles and a walk which loaded the bases. Loup was able to recover and struck out the next three he faced to get out of the inning. RHP Jeurys Familia came in next and threw two scoreless innings in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings. RHP Trevor May came on in the bottom of the ninth and threw a scoreless inning to pick up his second save. The Mets name is tomorrow night at the Cincinnati Reds at 7:10 p.m.