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.
Seth Lugo tossed the final two innings.
That temporarily boosted the Mets back into sole possession of first place in the NL East, pending the outcome of Atlanta’s afternoon game in Oakland and the Mets’ nightcap with the Pirates.
The Mets totaled four runs and seven hits in six innings against righthander Bryse Wilson (6.11 ERA).
It was his first homer since Aug. 10 for Naquin, who was playing in place of Starling Marte a day after Marte was hit on the hand by a pitch.
For Escobar, it was his third in five games. Escobar is hitting .321 in 10 games since returning from the IL late last month.
