Taillon flirts with no-hitter as Pirates blank Mets
NEW YORK -- Jameson Taillon carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning in his second major league start and earned his first career win by allowing two hits over eight shutout innings Tuesday night, when the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the New York Mets 4-0 at Citi Field.
Jung Ho Kang and Starling Marte hit two-run homers in the sixth and eighth innings, respectively, for the Pirates (33-31).
New York (34-29) lost its three straight.
Taillon, who made his major league debut against the Mets last Tuesday night, was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis prior to the game to fill the rotation spot vacated by the injured Gerrit Cole. A six-pitch first inning against a depleted New York lineup missing five Opening Day starters provided an early hint Taillon might flirt with history.
The Mets' only baserunners in the first six innings were Kevin Plawecki, who was hit by a pitch in the third, and Yoenis Cespedes, who drew a walk in the fourth. The closest Taillon came to giving up a hit came on slow rollers to first base by Curtis Granderson in the fourth and Alejandro De Aza and Asdrubal Cabrera in the sixth.
Taillon's bid to throw the Pirates' first no-hitter since 1997 -- and to become the third pitcher in history to throw a no-hitter in his second career start -- ended in the seventh, when Granderson led off with a clean single between second baseman Josh Harrison and shortstop Jordy Mercer, each of whom dove for the ball.
The hit likely spared Pirates manager Clint Hurdle a stomach-churning decision of whether or not to pull Taillon with the no-hitter intact. Taillon, who missed the 2013 and 2014 seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery, never threw more than 105 pitches or exceeded seven innings in his first 85 starts as a professional.
Taillon, who allowed a one-out single to James Loney in the eighth, was lifted for pinch-hitter Matt Joyce in top of the ninth. Tony Watson allowed a pinch-hit double to Matt Reynolds leading off the bottom of the ninth before retiring the next three batters.
Right-hander Jacob deGrom took the loss for the Mets after allowing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out nine over six innings.
NOTES: A moment of silence was held prior to the game in memory of the victims of Sunday morning's terrorist attack in Orlando. ... To make room for RHP Jameson Taillon on the active roster, the Pirates placed RHP Gerrit Cole (triceps) on the 15-day disabled list. Trainer Todd Tomczyk is expected to discuss Cole's prognosis Wednesday. ... The Pirates announced LHP Jeff Locke and RHP Juan Nicasio as their scheduled starters for Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. ... Mets manager Terry Collins returned to the dugout after missing Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers due to illness. Collins said he felt disoriented Sunday morning but a battery of tests administered at a Milwaukee hospital came back clean. ... Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said 3B David Wright may undergo surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck. Wright has not played since May 29.