Pirates 8, Mets 2
PITTSBURGH --- Andrew McCutchen hit a first-inning home run, doubled and finished with three hits as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat up on New York Mets ace Matt Harvey in an 8-2 victory on Saturday.
First baseman Pedro Alvarez hit his eighth home run of the season and a double while driving in two runs. Third baseman Josh Harrison's second hit, a two-run double, capped a four-run fourth inning against Harvey that pushed the Pirates' lead to 7-1.
Harvey's streak of 16 consecutive scoreless innings ended quickly when McCutchen hit a two-run homer, the center fielder's sixth of the season, with one out to open the scoring.
It only got worse for Harvey (5-2), who allowed a career-high seven runs in a career-low four innings. He also gave up six hits and two walks while striking out four. Harvey is 0-2 in his last four starts after winning his first five.
A.J. Burnett (4-1) won his fourth straight start --- the first time he has done that since July 21-Aug. 5, 2012 --- giving up one run and five hits in seven innings while striking out 10 and not issuing a walk.
The 38-year-old right-hander's performance helped give the Pirates (20-22) back-to-back wins after a stretch of six losses in seven games.
Burnett has not surrendered more than two runs in any of his nine starts this season.
Second baseman Daniel Murphy had three hits and an RBI for the Mets (24-20), who lost for the fourth time in five games. Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada hit his first home run of the season to lead off the eighth.
McCutchen's homer came after Harrison led off the bottom of the first with a single to extend his hitting streak to 10 games on a day in which the fans at PNC Park received bobblehead dolls in the third baseman's likeness.
Alvarez, the first baseman, led off the second with his eighth homer of the season to increase the lead to 3-0.
Harrison's double in the fourth came after Alvarez hit an RBI double and Burnett lofted a sacrifice fly, leading the Pirates to their 11th win over the Mets in their last 15 meetings.
NOTES: Mets 3B David Wright developed stiffness in his lower back at extended spring training camp at Port St. Lucie and will be shut down for a week. Wright was scheduled to faced live pitching on Friday for the first time since April 15 when he was placed on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring. A Mets official said he did not take swings as scheduled ... New York OF David Ceciliani, called up Tuesday from Triple-A Las Vegas, made his first major league start as LF Michael Cuddyer was rested in a day gamer after a night game. ... Pirates OF Andrew Lambo has not shown any improvement since being placed on the disabled list on May 4 because of plantar fasciitis. He is at the Pirates' extended spring training camp in Bradenton, Fla., and there is no timetable for when he might be ready to begin a rehab assignment. ... The three-game series concludes on Sunday with New York LHP Jonathon Niese (3-4, 3.72 ERA) facing Pittsburgh LHP Francisco Liriano (1-4, 4.15).