PITTSBURGH — Two big swings lifted the Mets to one big win Wednesday afternoon, 5-1, over the Pirates in the first game of their doubleheader. That snapped a three-game losing streak that matched their longest of the season.
Their four-run fourth inning came via Tyler Naquin and Eduardo Escobar, who smashed homers in back-to-back at-bats. Naquin’s was a three-run blast to center, Escobar’s a solo shot to right.
The Mets’ bats were otherwise quiet, but that proved to be plenty of support for Chris Bassitt, who provided the lengthy, effective start the club sought: seven innings, one run, 10 strikeouts. He scattered five hits and one walk, navigating late trouble to help manager Buck Showalter get through the game using only one reliever.
