Noah Syndergaard, Mets Offense Clobber Pirates

In four games previous against the Pirates this season, the Mets scored all of eight runs. Well, the bats came alive Wednesday night against the Bucs, scoring 11 runs in this game alone. And with Noah Syndergaard throwing into the ninth inning for the first time in his career, it was as easy a win as the Mets have had all season

The Mets jumped all over starter Jeff Locke in the first inning. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Wilmer Flores grounded out back to Locke to score one run. With two outs, Matt Reynolds doubled to plate two more and the Mets had a 3-0 lead.

Kelly Johnson, playing left field after Juan Lagares was scratched with his bum thumb, made it 4-0 with a solo shot in the third, his first homer back with the Mets.

Asdrubal Cabrera and Yoenis Cespedes each singled to lead off the fifth. Flores singled to drive home Cabrera. That ended Locke’s night. Johnson came through again with a single to score Cespedes. With two outs, Rene Rivera singled to score Flores to make it a 7-0 and blow the game open.

But they weren’t done. Flores hit a two-run homer in the sixth to extend the lead to 9-o. Flores, who was batting cleanup, had four RBIs on the night. Later in the inning, James Loney doubled to score Johnson, who had singled, to make it 10-0.

The Mets added another run in the eighth to make it an 11-0 game.

Noah Syndergaard pitched eight shutout innings and was allowed to go out there for the ninth. But he could not get his first shutout and complete game. He allowed a leadoff double, and with one out, another double broke up the shutout. That was all for Syndergaard, who gave way to Jeurys Familia. Jung Ho Kang hit a shot to third on which Flores made a great play. But he threw the ball away, allowing a run to score.

Syndergaard went 8.1 innings, allowing the two runs (one earned) on five hits. He struck out 11 and did not walk a batter. Syndergaard raised his record to 7-2 and lowered his ERA to 1.91.

Mets win 11-2.