The Pittsburgh Pirates returned home after a rough series at the plate in Detroit and took the first of a three-game set against the Mets on Monday night. The Bucs fell behind early by four runs but the offense reeled off five unanswered to secure the 5-4 victory. Erik Bedard gave up all four earned runs in a rocky second inning that included two walks and four hits. But that's all the Mets would get as Bedard and the bullpen kept it within reason and allowed the offense to comeback. The pen allowed only two hits in four innings of work.
It started in the the bottom of the fourth with a Josh Harrison leadoff double. Andrew McCutchen promptly brought him home with a double of his own to deep left. Pedro Alvarez then made it three extra-base hits in a row, knocking in McCutchen with a double to right. The inning ended in disappointing fashion, however, as the Bucs failed to capitalize on a walk and an error when Michael McKenry hit into a bases-loaded inning-ending double play.
With the deficit cut in half, McKenry would quickly atone for the double-play ball with a game-tying two-run shot to left centerfield off Johan Santana. The Bucs would take the lead in the 8th after an error by Kirk Nieuwenhuis put Neil Walker on third base. Clint Barmes would take advantage of the error and bring home Walker on a sacrifice fly to right for the game-winner.
Joel Hanrahan slammed the door for his 10th save of the season. The Bucs will go for the series win on Tuesday night with James McDonald on the mound. McDonald is coming off a dazzling strikeout performance against the Nationals. The knuckleball specialist R.A. Dickey will go for the Mets.
For more on the Pirates, there's Bucs Dugout. For more on the Mets, there's Amazin' Avenue.