Pirates lose LHP Bailey Falter in 3rd, fall to Mets at home
PITTSBURGH — Luis Torrens had three hits, including a three-run double, and Edwin Diaz got the save after his 10-game suspension ended earlier in the day as the New York Mets defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 Saturday.
Torrens hit his double in the third inning to the deepest part of the park at the 410-foot sign in left-center to break a scoreless tie. The catcher also singled twice as the Mets snapped a three-game losing streak.
A night earlier, Torrens was used in mop-up relief in the Mets’ 14-2 loss to the Pirates.
“Anytime I can contribute to the team both offensively and defensively, I’m happy to do that,” Torrens said.
Torrens was playing at Triple-A Wilkes-Barre/Scranton when the Mets purchased his contract from the New York Yankees on May 31. He is hitting .317 in 15 games as Francisco Alvarez’s backup.
“He’s been great not only offensively getting timely hits but the way he handles the pitching staff, making those guys feel really good about themselves, making adjustments when needed, communicating with the pitching coaches, the game planning,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Diaz pitched a scoreless ninth for his eighth save in 12 opportunities. Diaz was suspended by Major League Baseball after being ejected from a game June 23 against the Chicago Cubs for having a foreign substance on his pitching hand.
“I was a little anxious, but then I just concentrated on throwing strikes,” Diaz said.
Brandon Nimmo also had three of the Mets’ 11 hits. Jose Butto (3-3) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.
Bryan Reynolds had two hits for the Pirates, who had won two of their previous three games. That came after he hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in six runs in Friday’s rout.
Pirates starter Bailey Falter was removed in the third inning because of left posterior arm discomfort after the Mets loaded the bases with no outs. Dennis Santana relieved and struck out Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos before Torrens delivered his big blow.
“I just obviously wanted to try to stay in the game for as much as possible, just to give the bullpen a little break,” Falter said. “But I noticed a little discomfort in the warmup pitches in the third. Didn’t really throw too many strikes. It kind of flared up after that, and I kind of just lost feel for (the strike zone).”
The Pirates’ Oneil Cruz hit a towering two-run home run off Mets starter David Peterson in the fourth inning that cleared the right-field stands and bounced into the Allegheny River.
The Mets got two runs back in the sixth to increase their lead to 5-2. Jose Iglesias hit an RBI double and Harrison Bader followed with a sacrifice fly.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton was ejected by home plate umpire John Tumpane in the bottom of the seventh inning for arguing a called strike against Jack Suwinski with the bases loaded. Reed Garrett then struck out Suwinski to end the threat and preserve the Mets’ three-run edge.
Falter (4-7) was charged with three runs in two-plus innings while allowing five hits.
Peterson worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
Pirates: RHP David Bednar (strained left oblique muscle) threw 21 pitches in a simulated game and could be close to either returning to the active roster or going to the minor leagues for a brief rehab assignment. … RHP Daulton Jefferies (right elbow discomfort) was placed on the 15-day injured list and RHP Ryder Ryan was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.
The Mets will pitch LHP Sean Manaea (5-3, 3.67 ERA) on Sunday in the third game of a four-game wraparound series against Pirates RHP Luis Ortiz (4-2, 3.27). Manaea is 2-0 with a 1.99 ERA in his last four starts.
