Harrison Bader once again brought home the run that put the Mets ahead in the eighth inning. He hit a two-run double off Aroldis Chapman, helping the New York Mets secure a 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.
The Mets were down 3-0 in the sixth inning but managed to tie the game. This win brought their record to .500 for the first time since last June. After a rough start with five losses, the Mets have won eight of their last 11 games under new manager Carlos Mendoza.
“It’s important to keep playing well after a tough start, but we still have a lot to improve,” Mendoza said. “I like how we’re performing as a team.”
Chapman was ejected by the umpire after Bader’s double, apparently for saying something the umpire didn’t like, according to Pirates manager Derek Shelton.
New York took advantage of the Pirates’ struggles with defense, stealing three bases in the eighth inning. The Pirates have allowed 13 stolen bases this season without throwing out a single runner.
With the score tied at 3-3, Jeff McNeil reached base on a wild pitch by Chapman, followed by a walk to DJ Stewart. McNeil and Stewart then executed a double steal, setting the stage for Bader’s decisive hit.
Bader’s hit drove in the go-ahead run, just like his infield hit in Sunday’s game against Kansas City.
After Bader stole third base, Brandon Nimmo grounded to second baseman Jared Triolo, allowing Bader to slide in safely ahead of the tag. Henry Davis started as a catcher for the Pirates, making his 13th start of the season due to injuries to other catchers on the team.
Adam Ottavino pitched the eighth inning for the Mets, striking out two batters and extending his streak of retiring 17 consecutive batters.
Edwin Díaz earned his second save in two days and his 100th with the Mets. He has been flawless in save opportunities since returning from a season-ending injury last year, successfully converting 26 saves in a row dating back to 2022.
