Mets Crushed By Pirates 8-2 After Taijuan Walker Struggles

Mets LF Mark Canha (Photo Credits to Charles LeClaire-USA Today Sports)

 The New York Mets lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-2 tonight at PNC Park in Pittsburgh for their third consecutive loss and dropped their record to 85-51.

RHP Taijuan Walker started out well with a scoreless bottom of the first, but ran into trouble in the bottom of the second after he gave up back-to-back singles to 2B Kevin Newman and LF Jack Suwinski and then a sacrifice fly to 1B Michael Chavis.

Walker's struggles continued in the bottom of the third after he walked CF Bryan Reynolds and then gave up a two-run homer to DH Rodolfo Castro.

Walker had a scoreless bottom of the fourth and in the bottom of the fifth, he gave up a one-out double to SS Oneil Cruz and then a RBI single to Reynolds and was taken out after the inning.

His final line was five innings, six hits, four runs, two walks and three strikeouts.

RHP Mychael Givens followed with a scoreless bottom of the sixth.

RHP Bryce Montes de Oca came in next in the bottom of the seventh and gave up two runs on a wild pitch and a RBI single to catcher Jason Delay.

RHP Tommy Hunter appeared in the bottom of the eighth and gave up a two-run homer to Cruz.

The offense did not do much until the top of the seventh after catcher James McCann singled with two outs and then CF Brandon Nimmo followed with a two-run homer.

The Mets next game is tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, September 7 in the first game of a doubleheader beginning at 12:35 p.m.