PITTSBURGH — It took 7 2/3 innings to break a scoreless tie on Saturday afternoon at PNC Park. After nearly eight innings with no action, the final two innings provided plenty. Brandon Nimmo gave the Mets a lead in the top of the eighth, Edwin Diaz lost it in the bottom of the inning and Francisco Lindor took it back for good in the ninth, helping the Mets come back for a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“The at-bats in the ninth were unbelievable,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. With the Pirates up 2-1 after scoring twice in the bottom of the eighth, former Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman (1-4) came on for the save. The veteran fireballer walked Francisco Alvarez to lead off the ninth and gave up a single to Harrison Bader.
He struck out Mark Vientos and Luis Torrens, but his Cuban countrymate Jose Iglesias proved to be a tough at-bat. Iglesias worked him for eight pitches, laying off a scorching, 101.7 MPH fastball to draw ball 4 and load the bases.
With Lindor down to the last out, the shortstop lined a slider to left field, placing it perfectly in no-man’s land. Pinch-runner Ben Gamel and Bader scored to put the Mets back on top, 3-2. “Overall, the at-bats, I think, were maybe the best we’ve seen against a pretty good arm,” Mendoza said.
“I’m glad that it worked out for us today.” Lindor went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a walk on a day when offense was tough to come by. “I was so locked in,” Lindor said of the ninth inning.
“I was up clos.
