PITTSBURGH — Wilmer Flores’ pinch-hit bloop single drove in Yoenis Cespedes in the 10th inning to give the New York Mets a 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Mets avoided a sweep and ended a nine-game losing streak against Pittsburgh that dated to June 2014.
The New York win took some luster off of the major league debut of Pirates right-hander Jameson Taillon.
Taillon did not get a decision. The teams were tied 3-3 when he left after giving up three runs on six hits over six innings, with three strikeouts and two walks. His debut had been long anticipated by Pirates followers. The second overall draft pick six years ago, Taillon’s path to the big leagues was slowed by Tommy John and hernia surgeries.
Mets starter Noah Syndergaard, who was 4-1 in his previous six starts, also pitched six innings and got a no-decision. Two of the three runs he allowed were earned.
The Pirates scored twice in the seventh for a 5-3 lead. Gregory Polanco doubled off of the wall in right-center. He took third and Andrew McCutchen, who had led off with a walk, scored on second baseman Neil Walker’s second error of the game. Polanco scored on Josh Harrison’s sacrifice fly.
The Mets tied it again, 5-5, on Michael Conforto’s two-run home run in the eighth.
Pittsburgh took a 2-0 lead in the first after John Jaso led off and reached on Walker’s error. After McCutchen walked, Polanco doubled to right and Jung Ho Kang singled to right.
The Mets tied it in the fourth on Ty Kelly’s first major league homer, a two-run shot to right that also produced his first two major league RBIs.
Jaso’s RBI double in the fourth gave the Pirates a 3-2 lead, but New York tied it immediately.
Syndergaard led off the fifth with a double off the right-field wall, was bunted to third and scored on Conforto’s sacrifice fly.
NOTES: The Mets reacquired INF/OF Kelly Johnson and cash from Atlanta in a trade for RHP prospect Akeel Morris. Johnson, 34, who is expected to join New York Friday in Milwaukee, batted .215 with six doubles, one home run and 10 RBIs in 49 games for the Braves this season. New York also traded for Johnson from Atlanta last season, and he re-signed with the Braves in January. … Two Pittsburgh regulars, LF Starling Marte (bruised ankle) and SS Jordy Mercer, were not in the lineup. … The Pirates officially recalled RHP Jameson Taillon from Triple-A Indianapolis before the game, a day after announcing they would make the move and start him. RHP Curtis Partch was optioned to Indianapolis. … Pittsburgh RHP Ryan Vogelsong, who had surgery June 2 for facial fractures from being hit with a pitch, has been cleared to continue his rehab with the club. He said his intention is to return to play again this season. … New York prospect INF T.J. Rivera, playing for Las Vegas, was named Pacific Coast League player of the month for May (.373 average, five home runs, 31 RBIs).