NEW YORK – In an exhilarating showdown at Citi Field, Luis Robert Jr. electrified fans with a dramatic three-run homer in the 11th inning, propelling the New York Mets to a 4-2 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

Adding to the excitement, Luis Torrens made a memorable impact with a game-tying single in the 10th, marking his first swing of the season. This victory builds on the Mets’ promising start, following an 11-7 win against the Pirates on Thursday, where they faced off against Paul Skenes in their opener.

The game began with a stalemate as both starting pitchers, Mitch Keller for Pittsburgh and David Peterson for New York, held each other scoreless amidst chilly 42-degree conditions. The deadlock was broken in the 10th inning when Nick Gonzales of the Pirates delivered an RBI single, putting Pittsburgh in the lead.

However, Mets reliever Luis Garcia managed to avert further trouble by striking out Jake Mangum with the bases loaded, keeping the Mets in contention.

The Pirates briefly reclaimed the advantage with Bryan Reynolds’ two-out infield single in the 11th, but pitcher Richard Lovelady (1-0) skillfully navigated the pressure, fanning Gonzales with runners threatening at the corners.

In the bottom of the 11th, Jorge Polanco’s leadoff walk set the stage for the Mets’ comeback against rookie left-hander Hunter Barco (0-1). Barco, in only his third major league outing, had already demonstrated resilience by escaping a significant jam in the 10th, yet it was Robert Jr.’s heroics that ultimately sealed the game in favor of the Mets.

With automatic runner Bo Bichette also aboard at second, Robert reached down and drove a 1-0 slider over the left-center fence for his first homer with the Mets and the second walk-off shot of his career. The center fielder from Cuba, acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a January trade, also had two RBI singles Thursday in his New York debut.

Pittsburgh finished 2 for 18 with runners in scoring position and stranded 17. Mangum’s ninth-inning double was the only extra-base hit in the game until Roberts went deep.

Following the Mets’ offseason makeover, the 30-year-old Peterson became the team’s longest-tenured player. The left-hander, a first-time All-Star last season before fading in the second half, allowed six singles and two walks in 5 1/3 innings.

He pitched around a throwing error by Bichette, switching from shortstop to third base this year, and induced a popup from new Pirates cleanup batter Marcell Ozuna on a 2-0 fastball with the bases loaded to end the fifth.

Keller was even better, permitting just three singles and no walks in six innings. The right-hander, an All-Star in 2023, has a 1.79 ERA in seven starts against New York.

Up next

Mets rookie right-hander Nolan McLean (5-1, 2.06 ERA) makes his season debut Sunday in the series finale. RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (5-8, 3.55) pitches for Pittsburgh.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB