August 16th 2015 -- Pirates 8, Mets 1

Sunday afternoon in Flushing, the Pirates scored four times in a poorly played top of the 7^th inning snapping a 1 all tie as they complete a 3 game sweep of the Mets with a 8-1 win. Matt Harvey and Jeff Locke were locked in a 1-1 tie through 6.  In the top of the 2^nd the Pirates took a 1-0 lead on a solo homer by Pedro Alvarez, his 18^th of the year.  Travis d’Arnaud tied it in the bottom of the 2^nd with a solo homer of his own, his 6^th. In the middle of the 6th inning there was a 42 minute rain-delay.  That ruled out Harvey pitching a 7^th inning. When the Mets came back Arquimedes Caminero two runners on and 1 out and cleared the inning. In the top of the 7^th the Pirates broke through against the Mets. Bobby Parnell relieved Harvey and walked Pedro Florimon, then the tandem of Tejada and Murphy failed to convert a double play on a good throw by Bobby Parnell giving the Bucs 1^st and 3^rd with no out. Gregory Polanco singled to center scoring Florimon breaking the 1 all tie.  A passed ball by Travis d’Arnaud brought home Sean Rodriguez to make it 3-1, Aramis Ramirez followed with an RBI single and it was 4-1 Pirates.  Pedro Alvarez capped the 4 run inning with an opposite field RBI single to make it 5-1. In the 8^th Starling Marte brought home run # 6 on an RBI infield hit against Carlos Torres, that run was charged to Eric O’Flaherty. Torres then gave up 2 runs of his own when Ramirez hit a 2 run double to cap the scoring. For the 2^nd straight outing, Bobby Parnell was roughed up. He allowed all 4 runs (earned), on 2 hits and 2 walks in 2/3 of an inning. Parnell takes the loss falling to 1-2. Harvey gets the no-decision going 6 allowing 7 hits the 1 run (earned) walking 1 and striking out 6.  His ERA falls to 2.57. Caminero gets the win he’s now 4-1. Aramis Ramirez went 4 for 5 with 3 RBI to lead the way for the Bucs.  d’Arnaud went 2 for 3 with the homer for the Mets. With the loss the Mets now fall to 63-55 on the year and 42-21 at Citi Field.  The Mets temporarily lose a ½ game to the Nats cutting their lead to 4 games in the NL East. That will either return to 4 ½ games or reduce to 3 ½ games pending the Nats game against the Giants in San Francisco. Monday is an off day for the Mets. Tuesday they are in Baltimore for a 2 games set against the surging O’s.  Jacob deGrom (11-6 2.03) goes for the Mets. Kevin Gausman (2-4 4.48) goes for the Orioles.