AP

Escobar hits 3-run homer, Bassitt pitches Mets past Pirates

Sep 17, 2022, 7:55 AM | Updated: 10:29 pm

New York Mets pitcher Chris Bassitt delivers against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning...

New York Mets pitcher Chris Bassitt delivers against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)


              New York Mets' Daniel Vogelbach blows a chewing gum bubble after being walked during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
            
              New York Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, left, has a mound conference with pitcher Chris Bassitt during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
            
              Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Eric Stout, second from left during a mound conference in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
            
              Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bryse Wilson delivers against the New York Mets during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
            
              New York Mets' Tyler Naquin (25) celebrates after scoring off a bases loaded walk by Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Eric Stout during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
            
              Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (15) reacts after striking out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
            
              New York Mets' Eduardo Escobar, center, celebrates with Pete Alonso (20) and Daniel Vogelbach (32) after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
            
              New York Mets pitcher Chris Bassitt delivers against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

NEW YORK (AP) — Eduardo Escobar hit an early three-run homer, Chris Bassitt pitched six shutout innings for his 14th win and the New York Mets beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Saturday night.

New York maintained its one-game lead in the NL East over the Atlanta Braves, who defeated Philadelphia 4-3. The Mets (92-55) have won the first three games of a four-game series against last-place Pittsburgh after getting swept at home by the Chicago Cubs.

Pete Alonso drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth for his 114th RBI, adding to his NL high.

Mets batters were hit by pitches four times, including Jeff McNeil twice. New York has been plunked 101 times this season, most in the majors and four shy of the big league record set by Cincinnati last year.

“It’s not a record you want to break,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said.

Rodolfo Castro’s 10th homer of the season in the ninth prevented the Pirates from being shut out for the 15th time.

Bryse Wilson (3-9) was charged with loss. He allowed four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings and struck out five.

All the offense the Mets required came in the second inning on Escobar’s 18th homer. The third baseman slammed the first pitch he saw from Wilson, a 94 mph fastball, over the wall in right-center.

“I’m getting the results that I want,” Escobar said. “At the most pivotal time.”

The 3-0 lead was more than enough for Bassitt (14-8), who permitted three hits and struck out eight.

In his second start this month against Pittsburgh, Bassitt toyed with the Pirates. Bryan Reynolds (first-inning single) and Castro (double in the fourth and single in the sixth) accounted for all of Pittsburgh’s hits off the veteran righty.

Only six Pirates reached base against Bassitt, and just two got to third base.

“Facing the same lineup 10 days ago I was thinking they were looking at some pitches, looking for some pitches,” Bassitt said. “I kind of went off script a little bit.”

New York’s lead grew to 4-0 in the sixth when Pittsburgh reliever Eric Stout walked Brandon Nimmo with the bases loaded. Two innings later, Alonso stretched the lead to 5-0 when he was walked by Chase De Long with the bases full.

Castro’s leadoff homer in the ninth ended the scoring.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: RHP Tylor Megill (strained right shoulder) and All-Star RF Starling Marte (partial fracture of the right middle finger) were in the clubhouse before the game. Megill said he had “no idea yet” when he would be activated from the injured list. Marte said he tried to throw and hit Thursday but the finger was still bothering him. He did say “there’s a good possibility” he will return before the end of the regular season. … RHP Mychal Givens was placed on the IL without an injury designation, indicating it was likely related to COVID-19. RHP Stephen Nogosek was reinstated from the 15-day injured list.

SEEDS OF GROWTH

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said he spoke to Ke’Bryan Hayes about the third baseman eating sunflower seeds during play, calling it an “unfortunate situation.”

SNY aired a clip Friday night of Hayes snacking as Escobar rounded third and scored New York’s first run on Tomás Nido’s hit.

Shelton called it “an outlier situation” and added there was no disciplinary action taken.

“It’s one play in a game,” Shelton said. “We moved on from it.”

UP NEXT

Pittsburgh RHP Johan Oviedo (3-2, 3.34 ERA) faces Mets ace Jacob deGrom (5-2, 2.01) in the series finale Sunday.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Escobar hits 3-run homer, Bassitt pitches Mets past Pirates