Mets A Hot Mess As Bucs Batter NY 11-1 Behind Williams & 15 Hits

With one gone, J-Hay, JJ, and Freeser hit consecutive singles to plate a run; a wayward outfield toss and J-Bell grounder gave the Bucs another and an early 2-0 jump on Tyler Pill and the Mets. NY put runners on the corners via a leadoff two-bagger and two-out walk but Trevor Williams got Lucas Duda on a fly to left. Pittsburgh went quietly in the second. The Mets got another opening double as a drizzle began to fall. A single put runners on the corners; a DP brought home a run but thinned the herd. Fraze doubled (lot of that going on today) to start the third and scored an out later on JJ's two-bagger. Jaso went to third on his opposite field bloop thx to a bad throw, Michael Conforto's second stray relay of the day. It helped as Freeser lifted a sac fly to plate JJ. Conforto opened with a knock and an out later another hit dropped in, but a 4-6-3 shut the gate.

Trevor didn't need a lot of help today, but it was there (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Cutch singled to begin the fourth and the CitiField crowd gave Conforto a mock cheer as his throw got to second on a straight line. Fran's rap put Pirates on the corners with one out. Williams bunted Amore to second. Fraze fouled off four pitches in a battle before dribbling a ball off the bat's end for an infield knock and cheapo RBI to make it 5-1. Trevor worked a drama-free frame, just allowing one knock (and this time, not to the leadoff guy!). Pill went soft with the changeup-curve combo in the fifth and tossed a clean inning; the Mets also went in order. Paul Sewald took over in the sixth and gave up a two-down double to Amore but Williams left him there. The Mets opened with a single and an out later grounded into their third DP; Jordy and J-Hay in the middle have been money.

Josh Edgin took his turn in the seventh and bopped J-Hay in the lower leg with an out. After a quick exam by the trainer, he headed to first. He didn't suffer long as JJ hit into an around-the-horn DP, or so it seemed. The Bucs challenged the call, saying Neil Walker's foot came of the bag before he had the ball and were right. Max Moroff went to second to run for the hobbled Harrison. It all paid off as Freeser chased him home with a rap before the curtain fell. Trevor worked the seventh, giving up a walk but no other damage. Neil Ramirez took the ball in the eighth and jumped right into the fire, giving up two knocks and a walk. A Goose grounder brought home one run and a Fraze sac fly another. Jhan Marinez took the hill and with a seven-run lead walked the first Met. Then he regained his senses and reverted to the Bucs MO of the day; he coaxed a 3-6-1 DP to coast out. Josh Smoker came in for the ninth and he walked the first Buc, sheesh, followed by a knock. An out later, Cutch happened; the Mets bullpen is a complete dumpster fire. Smoker escaped the frame with one more single. Tony Watson strolled out for some work - he hasn't tossed since May 31st - and barely broke a sweat with a 1-2-3, 11-pitch frame.

Tony doesn't get many 10-run leads to protect... (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Big diff when the team goes 6-for-12 w/RISP rather than 1-for-12 like yesterday. Combine some clutch with four DPs and it's bound to be a good day at the ballyard. Also, it's gonna be interesting when Jamo returns. We can't see how they can take Trevor Williams out of the rotation, so what happens with Chad Kuhl or Tyler Glasnow is anyone's guess. Management has a couple of different avenues to choose from in the development and eventual role of the pair; we'll see what road they choose, perhaps in a week or so.

Notes:

• Factor out the beatdown by the Dodgers in his first start of the year and Trevor Williams has since put up a 2.83 ERA w/25 hits in 28-2/3 IP in five outings. His last appearance was his first six-frame stint and today was his first big league breathe of seventh inning air.

Fran didn't let the sniffles stop him (photo Joe Guzy/Pirates)

• Andrew and Fran both are playing through sinus issues; we're guessing they'll spend tomorrow's off day in a Vicks VapoRub sauna room. Stuffy beaks didn't bather their swings, though. Amore had three knocks and a walk while Cutch & Freeser added three hits each. Andrew, btw, is batting .387 with three homers in nine games since moving into the six-hole. JJ had two hits & a free pass, Fraze had a pair of raps and J-Hay had a hit and was hit. Josh has become a ball magnet; he was drilled for the 10th time today. His previous season high for HBP was seven in both 2012 and 2015.
• The Buc's #5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, Bradenton SS Cole Tucker, is on the minor-league DL with a right thumb fracture. Cole was hitting .271 w/ 27 SB. Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com just wrote a piece on Tucker.