The Pirates got out to a 7-0 lead after three innings but proceeded to allow nine unanswered runs en route to a 9-8 loss to the New York Mets at Citi Field Thursday afternoon.
The Bucs got out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a series of singles, then scored three more in the second on an RBI single by Andrew McCutchen and a two-run homer by Neil Walker. Xavier Paul, who had four hits on the afternoon, had an RBI single in the third.
In the bottom of the inning, however, Paul Maholm allowed a three-run homer by Carlos Beltran. Then Maholm allowed a double, two walks and two singles in the seventh, and a passed ball by new catcher Dusty Brown with Chris Resop on the hill allowed the game-tying run to come in.
In the bottom of the eighth, Jose Veras, normally one of the Pirates' best relievers, allowed four walks (one intentional) while only recording two outs. The go-ahead run came home on a sacrifice fly, and then Veras walked Beltran with the bases loaded to make it 9-7.
Paul tripled in the ninth and scored on a single by Neil Walker, but that was all the Pirates could manage, and they lost 9-8.
This was an extremely frustrating loss to watch, as the Bucs looked like they were on their way to an easy victory and gradually gave it all back.