Yo ho ho and a bottle of runs. The New York Mets were nearly swept down the Allegheny River by the swashbuckling Pirates.

Losers of four of the last six against the worst team in the National League, the Mets rallied back from a six-run first inning deficit to defeat the Bucs, 7-6.

New York hoped to put a crushing defeat behind them. The Mets loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first but failed to score a run. Dominic Smith struck out and Michael Conforto grounded out to end the threat.

Taijuan Walker made his first appearance after his first career All-Star Game. Walker volunteered to pitch Sunday as Jacob deGrom landed on the injured list.

Walker would have been better off remaining in the dugout, lasting a third of an inning. Walker’s first batter, Adam Frazier, grounded out. He proceeded to allow a double, single, walk, double, walk, walk, single, walk, and six runs.

In the process, Luis Rojas was ejected. Kevin Newman chopped a ball that landed in the batters’ box but rolled to the foul line as Walker attempted to push it foul. The ball barely caught the line and was correctly ruled fair. The Mets watched and argued as the ball remained live. Three runners crossed the plate.

Drew Smith entered in, retiring Frazier and Wilmer Difo to end the inning. Eleven Pirates came to bat.

New York chipped away at the lead. In the third, Dominic Smith singled to score Brandon Nimmo. Three runners crossed home in the fourth off a three-run home run from Travis Blankenhorn. The Mets scored again in the sixth after a double from Smith. A throwing error by right fielder Gregory Polanco allowed McNeil to scamper home.

The Mets bullpen locked in. Drew Smith completed two and two-thirds innings, striking out two. Miguel Castro pitched a spotless fourth. Aaron Loup danced around danger in the fifth and sixth. Jeurys Familia sped through the seventh.

Pittsburgh’s chance came against Loup in the sixth inning. Two singles and a hit by a pitch on an 0-2 count loaded the bases for the Pirates. Loup needed to retire the top of the Pittsburgh lineup to escape. He struck out the next three batters. New York remained in striking distance.

The Pirates used a flurry of defensive switches and substitutions in the eighth. David Bednar entered in relief, attempting to bridge the gap for closer Richard Rodriguez.

Bednar struck out Nimmo, allowed a single to Pete Alonso, and got a flyout from McNeil. The Pirates contained J.D. Davis after two home runs on Saturday. Bednar continued the trend with a strikeout to end the inning.

Familia remained for the eighth. Frazier singled, giving every starter for the Pirates a hit. Still, Pittsburgh remained runless against the Mets bullpen for seven and two-thirds innings.
Rodriguez needed to get Smith, Conforto, and Jonathan Villar out to complete the sweep. Smith did his job leading with a single.
Conforto, 0-for-3 on the day, stepped up. The struggling right fielder launched a 1-1 fastball over the fence in center field. The Mets completed the comeback, now needing a clean inning from Trevor May to secure the win.
May opened his inning surrendering the first walk by a Mets reliever. Ben Gamel went to first base with John Nogowski up. He flew out to right. Last night’s Pirate hero Jacob Stallings entered to pinch-hit. Today, he walked the plank back to the dugout. Stallings struck out swinging. Catcher Michael Perez grounded out to first to end the game.
New York begins three games in Cincinnati tomorrow. The Mets haven’t announced a starting pitcher for Monday’s or Tuesday’s game.