Pirates take two of three from Mets behind Williams’ strong start

Trevor Williams had the best start of his young career, scattering 7 hits in 7 innings, and the Pirates’ lineup lashed 15 hits and plated runs in 6 different innings, capped by Andrew McCutchen’s 3-run homer in the 9th, as the Pirates smoked the Mets 11-1 in a drizzle on Sunday afternoon at Citi Field.

Williams walked 2 along with the 7 hits, but was aided by his infield turning 3 double plays behind him. The Mets only run scored in the second when Travis d’Arnaud hit into a twin killing after a leadoff double by Wilmer Flores and a single by Curtis Granderson. With the exception of William’s first start of the year in Los Angeles and it’s disastrous first inning, in the 5 since Williams has put up a 2.83 ERA in 28 ²⁄₃ innings and allowing only 5 walks and a single homerun.

Meanwhile the Pirates non-Sunday lineup pounded Mets’ starter Tyler Pill for 8 hits in 5 innings. Unlike the night before, many of those runners scored (almost like random variation or something) and Pill left trailing 5-1. Paul Sewald, the first of the Mets’ 4 relievers, unlike his performance Friday night was the only one to not allow a run as then the Pirates tacked on against Josh Edgin, Neil Ramirez and then Josh Smoker, who served up the 3-run round tripper to Andrew McCutchen in the 9th which landed 394 feet away in the left field stands.

After Williams departed Jhan Maríñez and Tony Watson each got in an inning of mop-up duty. David Freese, Andrew McCutchen and Francisco Cervelli each rapped out 3 hits, with Adam Frazier and John Jaso collecting 2 each.

One weird moment happened in the top of the 7th when John Jaso apparently grounded into an inning ending double play. Pirates’ manager Clint Hurdle could be seen signalling for a replay but then removing his hat and standing at attention just as “God Bless America” began playing in the stadium. When the broadcast returned from the commercial break, the viewers were informed that the replay officials ruled that Neil Walker was not in contact with the second base bag when he received the throw, meaning that the runner there was safe and the inning was to continue. David Freese promptly singled to put another run on the board for the Pirates, much to Walker’s disgust.