The Mets (54-65) took down the Pirates (53-66) 7-2 on Monday evening at Citi Field in the first of a three-game series. Despite Carrasco not being able to go deep into the game, the bullpen tossed six scoreless innings in relief. At the plate, New York notched nine hits from seven different batters.  

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Carlos Carrasco started on the mound for New York, delivering 88 pitches over three innings. He allowed two runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Carrasco encountered some initial struggles, conceding a run in each of the first two innings he pitched and his high pitch count led to an early exit. His ERA stands at 6.40 on the season. 

The Mets scored in each of the first six innings of the contest – it was the first time since 1987 that they had done this at home. Responding quickly to the Bucs’ early run in the top of the first inning, New York tied it up, 1-1 in the bottom half on a Brandon Nimmo single, and Pete Alonso double that drove him in. The RBI tied Alonso with Keith Hernandez for the 10th-most RBIs in Mets history with 468.

Daniel Vogelbach knotted the again, 2-2, in the second with a solo home run for his ninth of the season. New York took back the lead in the third when Lindor, who reached via a single, scored on Jeff McNeil‘s RBI single. He advanced two bases on a passed ball and a wild pitch. 

The Mets extended the lead to 5-2 in the fourth with a two-run homer from Jonathan Arauz for his first as a Met. The club tacked on two more in the fifth when Lindor doubled and Alonso walked to put runners on second and third with no outs. McNeil’s sacrifice fly drove in Lindor. Brandon Nimmo knocked a solo home run to make it a final 7-2. Lindor stole his 20th base in the inning to become the first Met to reach 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases since Carlos Beltran did it in 2008.  

“It’s really cool whenever I get to be next to one of my role models growing up, someone I try to be like. It’s special for sure. I’m blessed to be in this position,” Lindor told SNY.

“He’s an unbelievable player and I’m glad to have him on my team,” Brandon Nimmo told SNY about Lindor’s season.

Despite Carrasco’s three-inning start, the bullpen was lights out to secure the 7-2 triumph. Tyson Miller blanked the Bucs for two innings and earned the win. Sam Coonrod, Phil Bickford, Trevor Gott and Adam Ottavino each tossed a scoreless inning. Coonrod, Gott, and Ottavino each had a pair of strikeouts. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Brandon Nimmo earned Monday’s honor with a 2-for-5 appearance at the plate with a home run and RBI. With the homer, he is now one shy of tying his career high of 17, which he did in 2018.  

ON DECK

David Peterson takes the mound on Tuesday for New York. In his last start, he threw three and 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits, with two walks and five strikeouts.

Bailey Falter gets the start for the Pirates in his third time out after being traded to Pittsburgh from the Phillies. In his last start, the left-hander tossed four innings and allowed four runs on eight hits, with two walks and three strikeouts.

First pitch for Tuesday night’s game is set for 7:10 p.m. ET. The game will be available to watch on SNY and can be listened to on WCBS 880.