Another extra innings game, another loss for the New York Mets at Citi Field against Andrew McCutchen and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Mets: 3 (63-54)
- Pirates: 5 (68-46)
- Win: Joe Blanton (2-0)
- Loss: Sean Gilmartin (1-1)
- Save: Mark Melancon (37)
It was a Francisco Cervelli lead-off double in the top of the 14th inning that started the downfall of New York Mets reliever Sean Gilmartin.
It led to a two-run Pittsburgh inning propelling them to a 5-3 victory on Saturday night, they’re second straight over the Mets.
YOU CAN #RAISEIT!!! Your Bucs win another extra inning game in New York! 5-3 BattlinBuccos! pic.twitter.com/Xeg5VGn029
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 16, 2015
After the Cervelli double, Starling Marte hit a chopper to Daniel Murphy at first base. Instead of taking the easy out at first, he attempted an impossible play at third base to gun down Cervelli.
This boneheaded action by Murphy is what made a possible one run inning turn into two. Pinch hitter Chris Stewart and Sean Rodriguez singled in runs after the bad decision.
Pirates closer Mark Melancon came on for the save in the 14th to preserve the victory.
For the Mets, starter Jon Niese went six innings and gave up three runs and five hits in the no decision. Juan Uribe and Michael Conforto both homered for New York in a three run seventh inning that tied the ballgame up at three a piece.
Pirates lead-off man Gregory Polanco was the offensive star of the night. He finished 3-for-6 with a home run.
BOOM!!! Off the foul pole! That ball was CRUSHED as @El_Coffee was first pitch swingin’ again! 3-0 Bucs #HOTCOFFEE pic.twitter.com/HLByUkAcsu
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 15, 2015
This game featured tremendous defense on both sides. A well played contest by two potential NL playoff teams. No play better exemplified this than Yoenis Cespedes’s marvelous canon of a throw in the ninth to nab Sean Rodriguez at third base:
Jaws = DROPPED. http://t.co/bySoN1lwUx #Mets pic.twitter.com/rU5k50c5gr
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 16, 2015
With the Washington Nationals playing in San Francisco tonight, the Mets won’t know until later if they’ll maintain their 4.5 game lead in the NL East, or whether it’ll be slashed to 3.5.
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