Big Inning, Starling's Bomb Lead Bucs To 8-4 Comeback Win Over Mets

A couple of doubles, a rap and bouncer off Trevor Williams put the Bucs in an early 2-0 hole. Steven Matz 1-2-3'ed the Pirates. An infield single and bunt put Willy in a little jam in the second; a caught stealing calmed that water, followed by a walk and a grounder for no damage. Joey O singled with an out for the Pirates action. The third started with a walk and knock; a double plated one more run, but a contact play gone awry caught a Met a home the following at bat. Thankfully, they can't get out of their own way early on. Might not make a diff; the Bucs went down without a peep. Willy tossed a clean fourth frame, and the Bucs woke up. A walk to Bryan Reynolds and three straight singles by Starling, J-Bell and Joey O made it 3-2 before Melky doubled high off the bullpen fence to give Pittsburgh the lead. A grounder and bloop by Eli put the Pirates up by a pair. Robert Gsellman took over after a Willy bunt and gave up a walk before ending the cha-cha. There was no Mets noise in the fifth; the Buccos got a one-down walk followed by a DP. Willy continued on cruise control in the sixth, as did Gsellman.

Those first seven outs were a chore, but the last 11 were a breeze - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Frankie got the seventh inning call and gave up a two-out knock. Tom Prince went with the righty matchup against Peter Alonso and waved in Ric Rod. A single up the middle put Metropolitans on the corners. He got lefty Robinson Cano to pop to short right; Fraze and K-Man couldn't decide whose ball it was, and it ticked off Newman's mitt for a run-producing error before RR put it to bed, with K-Man bouncing back with a glovely play. Tyler Bashlor was tapped for back-to-back singles by K-Man and Reynolds with an out, and they trotted home after Starling drilled a 3-2 fastball over the left center fence. Pablo drew a walk, but no more damage was wrought. Kyle Crick answered the phone for the eighth and gave up a harmless two-out knock. Jeurys Familia walked Eli with an out and K-Man singled with two gone but no more cushion was added. Felipe got the nod,and alucky 13 pitches later, the win was in the books. Raise the Roger.

Willy righted the ship after encountering eary rough seas, with some help by wayward running by the Mets,a big inning consisting a string of runners, and Starling's big bop turned the trick. So the post-deadline Bucs are off to a rousing start.

Notes:

• Starling, K-Man and Joey O had a pair of rips each. The Bucs had 10 hits and went a sterling 5-for-9 w/RISP.
• Clint and David Bell can't appeal their suspensions as managers, but the six players suspended all can and did (score one for the MLBPA) so the Bucco bad boys were available tonight. Joey O and Kyle Crick played. The suspensions weren't the only slap: fines were issued to Trevor Williams and Reds Joey Votto and Phillip Ervin, along w/players on the IL who participated, which we assume includes Cervy.
• Frankie posted his 1,800th career K tonight.
• The Pirates broke a streak of 17 straight games by the Mets starters that resulted in three or fewer earned runs. The NY'ers also had a seven-game winning streak snapped.
• 24,311 was the announced attendance at PNC Park for tonight's game.
• The Pirates said that they hope Jamo will get by with flexor surgery, but admit that when the surgeon opens up the elbow, whatever he finds will determine the procedure, so TJ is not off the table yet.