Bassitt Gets Mets Back On Track In 5-1 Win

Chris Bassitt got the Mets back in the win column on Wednesday afternoon.

The veteran right-hander tossed seven innings to snap a three-game losing streak against last-place teams.

With their 5-1 victory, the Mets went back atop the National League East, holding a 0.5 game lead over the Atlanta Braves.

Heading into Wednesday’s matinee, the Mets had only scored four runs in their last 27 innings. They wasted no time against Pirates starter Duane Underwood Jr. to plate a runner, scoring one in the first inning following a single and double from Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso.

The Mets shook up the lineup, placing Alonso second in the order with Francisco Lindor following at third. A swap from what they’ve done in nearly every other game this season.

Buck Showalter also moved Jeff McNeil up to fourth in the lineup. McNeil’s sacrifice fly scored the opening run.

The Mets were quiet until the fourth inning. Daniel Vogelbach led off with a single, Mark Canha was hit by a pitch, then two struggling Mets hit back-to-back home runs to open up the ballgame. Tyler Naquin hit his 11th home run of the year to make it 4-0 and Eduardo Escobar immediately followed with his 15th of the season to make it 5-0.

Chris Bassitt only needed two runs to secure the victory. Bassitt pitched seven innings, allowed five hits, one run, and struck out 10. It was his second time reaching the double-digit strikeout plateau this season and he set a new career-high in quality starts with 17.

Bassitt’s only blunder was in the sixth inning when he allowed a leadoff double to Greg Allen and a single to Tyler Heineman that plated the Pirates lone run of the game.

Seth Lugo shut the door on Pittsburgh. His two innings out of the pen were much needed with the remainder of the doubleheader playing tonight. Lugo allowed two hits and struck out one. He lowered his ERA to under 3.00.

The Mets and Pirates are scheduled to play again tonight at 6:35 P.M. with Jacob deGrom on the mound for New York.