The New York Mets couldn’t recover from another rough start by David Peterson, dropping the series opener to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-1, on Friday night at PNC Park.
Peterson hoped to rebound from last weekend’s meltdown in Philadelphia, but the lefty was tagged for four runs in the second inning. After a walk and two singles opened the scoring, Alexander Canario drove a double over Juan Soto’s head. Two more runs came across on an Isiah Kiner-Falefa single and a forceout, putting the Mets in a hole early. Peterson gave up seven hits and three walks over 4.2 innings, allowing at least five runs for the second straight start, a mark he never reached in any outing last year.
Called up Friday to help cover innings, rookie Blade Tidwell wasn’t able to keep things close. After getting the final out of the fifth, he surrendered a three-run homer to Bryan Reynolds an inning later as the Pirates broke the game open. Tidwell finished with four runs allowed across 3.1 innings.
Soto provided the lone offensive highlight in the fourth with a solo home run, his 20th of the season. Brett Baty doubled twice and Ronny Mauricio singled and walked, but the Mets went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight men on base. Mark Vientos returned from the injured list but struggled in his first game back, finishing 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
Manager Carlos Mendoza pulled Soto and Francisco Lindor in the late innings with the game out of reach.
The Mets (48-35) will look to bounce back on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. with Paul Blackburn on the mound against Bailey Falter.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.
