PITTSBURGH (AP) — Francisco Lindor hit a two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning against Aroldis Chapman for his third hit of the game, rallying the New York Mets to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. Nick Gonzales had a two-run single in the eighth off Edwin Díaz (3-1) to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead, but the Mets rebounded and again reached .500 at 44-44.
“Huge team win,” New York manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We finally scored one. Then, we lost the lead.
And then, the at-bats in the ninth, unbelievable.” Chapman (1-4) walked Francisco Alvarez leading off the ninth and gave up Harrison Bader's single. Chapman threw called third strikes past Mark Vientos and Luis Torrens, threw a wild pitch and walked Jose Iglesias.
Lindor pulled a 1-1 slider into left field to reach for the fourth time on an afternoon that included two singles, a double and a walk. Chapman, who has moved to closer with David Bednar sidelined since June 23 with a strained left oblique muscle, blew a save for the third time in six chances. Chapman's 40 pitches were his most since 42 for Cincinnati on Sept.
15, 2015. “He does throw really hard. I think he's throwing harder now than when I faced him a bunch of times before,” Lindor said of Chapman, who topped 100 mph with 11 pitches.
“I've faced him probably eight to 10 times and he's been on the winning side most of them. Today, it was my turn.” Chapman's five career blown saves facing the Mets are his most against any.
