May 23rd 2015 -- Pirates 8, Mets 2

Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh Matt Harvey gave up a pair of homers and 7 earned runs, as the Pirates beat up on the Mets winning 8-2. It was clear that Harvey didn’t have it on this outing; Josh Harrison led off the game for the Bucs with a single to left, stole second and then scored on a long two run home run off the bat of Andrew McCutchen, his 6^th of the year for a 2-0 lead.  In the 2^nd Pedro Alvarez hit a bomb deep into the bleachers in right, a solo shot and it was 3-0.  The Met offense continues to slumber. They scored their only run off A.J. Burnett when Juan Lagares scored on a Daniel Murphy fielder’s choice (oddly the only time they retired Murphy in the game). Pittsburgh got to Harvey 4 more times in the 4^th on a RBI double by Alvarez, a sac-fly by Burnett and a two run double by Harrison. That was it for Harvey, as he lasted just 4 innings allowing 6 hits 7 runs (all earned) walking 2 and striking out 4 in what was easily his toughest outing on the year as he falls to 5-2. Burnett went 7 allowing 5 hits 1 run (earned) and striking out 10 improving to 4-1. Carlos Torres, Jack Leathersich, Hansel Robles and Alex Torres mopped up.  Robles was on the mound when the last run scored on a throwing error by Eric Campbell.  Ruben Tejada hit a pinch hit homer in the top of the 8^th his 1^st of the year to cap the scoring.  Murphy went 3 for 4 leading the anemic NY offense. McCutchen went 3 for 4 to lead the Bucs. The Mets free-fall on the road continues. They are now 7-14 away from home and 24-20 overall. They do stay 1 ½ games behind the Nationals who lost to the Phillies. Sunday afternoon the Mets look to salvage the final game of this three game set. Jonathon Niese (3-4 3.72) looks to rebound of a rocky couple of outings, Francisco Liriano (1-4 4.15) goes for Pittsburgh.