Despite drastically different payrolls and expectations entering the 2023 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets entered Monday night’s contest with identical 53-65 records. While the Mets have overwhelmingly underachieved virtually from the season’s onset, the Pirates got off to a strong start before cooling off, placing both teams towards the bottom of the National League standings.
The Mets’ offense hit Bucs’ starter Quinn Priester hard on Monday, as the home team coasted to a 7-2 victory. Falling to 2-2 on the season, Priester gave up six runs on seven hits in five innings. Osvaldo Bido pitched the remaining three innings in relief, giving up a run on two hits. Carlos Carrasco started for New York, giving up two runs on four hits in three innings. It was a pitch-by-committee effort for the Mets, with a total of six pitchers making appearances, including Tyson Miller, who earned his first victory of the season.
Pittsburgh scored the game’s first run in the top of the first inning. Henry Davis’s RBI single to center field scored Bryan Reynolds to put the Bucs up 1-0. Pete Alonso’s double in the bottom of the inning scored Brandon Nimmo to tie the game, and Daniel Vogelbach’s solo homerun in the bottom of the second put the Mets in front, 2-1.
Ke’Bryan Hayes stayed hot at the plate on Monday, delivering an RBI double to left field in the top of the third to score Connor Joe, tying the game. But from there on out, it was all New York.
Jeff McNeil’s single in the bottom of the third scored Francisco Lindor to make it a 3-2 game, and Jonathan Arauz belted a two-run homerun to right center in the fourth to extend the lead to 5-2. A sacrifice fly by McNeil in the fifth and a solo homerun by Nimmo in the sixth extended the lead to 7-2, which would be the final score.
This was another disappointing performance from Priester. It is still extremely early in his MLB career, but it is difficult to see a highly touted prospect struggle this much early on at the big-league level.
The Pirates and Mets will meet back up on Tuesday night for the second game of this series. Bailey Falter will be on the mound for Pittsburgh against David Peterson for New York. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm.
Record vs. Mets: 2-2
Record vs. N.L. East: 9-9
Record on the Road: 24-34
Overall Record: 53-66
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
