Colon, Mets stymie Pirates
NEW YORK -- Bartolo Colon threw 7 2/3 strong innings Thursday night and doubled to begin a four-run third inning for the New York Mets, who went on to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4 at Citi Field.
The Mets (36-29) won the final two games of the three-game series. The Pirates (33-33) lost seven of eight to fall to .500 for the first time since they were 9-9 on April 23.
Colon (6-3) carried a shutout into the eighth, when he gave up a leadoff homer to Matt Joyce and a one-out RBI single to Josh Harrison before exiting to a standing ovation from the crowd of 33,052. The 43-year-old allowed the two runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out eight in lowering his ERA to 3.01.
But Colon got an even warmer reception for what he did at the plate, where he delivered his fourth career extra-base hit and scored his seventh run -- and his first on a sacrifice fly.
The Pirates added two more runs in the ninth, when Addison Reed gave up a leadoff homer to Andrew McCutchen and a double to Jung Ho Kang. Jeurys Familia entered and worked around a one-out double by Matt Joyce and a run-scoring groundout by John Jaso to earn his 22nd save.
Neil Walker homered, doubled and finished with three RBIs while Curtis Granderson and Michael Conforto each had two hits and a homer for the Mets, who scored more runs the last two games (17) than in their previous five combined (14).
McCutchen had three hits for the Pirates while Harrison had two hits.
Right-hander Juan Nicasio (5-6) took the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over 4 1/3 innings.
NOTES: Mets 3B David Wright, who hasn't played since May 27 because of a herniated disk in his neck, underwent a successful cervical discectomy and fusion on Thursday afternoon. The Mets have not announced a timetable for his potential return. ... The Mets placed OF Juan Lagares (left wrist) on the 15-day disabled list and recalled IF Ty Kelly from Triple-A Las Vegas. Lagares tore cartilage in the wrist while making a diving catch on June 4 and could not put his glove on after taking swings in the cage Wednesday. ... Pirates LF Starling Marte did not start, one night after he was hit in the face by a ball while trying to make a diving catch. ... Pirates C Chris Stewart sat out a second straight game. He was hit in the head, elbow and side while catching Tuesday night's series opener.