Mets fend off Pirates in final game of Saturday’s doubleheader

The New York Mets beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 in Saturday night’s doubleheader nightcap.

New York jumped on Max Kranick early in the final game of Saturday’s doubleheader.

After striking out Brandon Nimmo in the bottom of the first, Kranick surrendered a one out single to Francisco Lindor, ending his streak of perfect innings. A walk to Dominic Smith followed that, and both were brought in on a double to right by second baseman Jeff McNeil.

The Pirates’ offense found some success in the third inning. After Kranick struck out to lead-off the frame, Kevin Newman, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Bryan Reynolds tallied three straight singles, with Reynolds’ hit driving home Newman. That would be all Pittsburgh could muster, as Ben Gamel popped out and John Nogowski struck out to end the inning.

New York got a run back in the bottom half of the third after Pete Alonso hit his seventeenth home run of the season off Kranick, extending the Mets’ lead to 3-1.

Jacob Stallings brought the Pirates within a run in the sixth after hitting his seventh home run of the season to left center.

Billy McKinney added an insurance run for New York in the bottom of the sixth, driving in James McCann on a single to center.

Edwin Diaz closed out the game in the seventh by striking out all three hitters faced.

In his return, Kranick gave up four hits and three earned runs while striking out five over three innings pitched. Chasen Shreve cruised through two innings of relief, allowing just one hit and two walks, and Clay Holmes gave up a run in his only inning of work.

The Pirates, now 33-56, will look to split the series with New York tomorrow afternoon.