Bo Bichette had five hits and three RBIs and Sean Manaea struck out 11 over seven innings to lead the New York Mets to an 11-1 win and a series victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon.
With New York leading 5-1 in the top of the fourth, Bichette's bases-clearing double off Pirates starter Jared Jones (2-4) broke the game open and eventually lifted the Mets to their fifth win in six games.
Jones allowed eight runs on six hits and three walks. He lasted three-plus innings, allowing the first three Mets to reach base in the fourth before his exit. The Pirates, who lost for the fifth time in six games, are 3-10 since July 28.
Manaea (4-5) gave up only one run on three hits and did not issue a walk. It was his fourth consecutive quality start allowing two or fewer runs.
Manaea's lone blemish was Jake Mangum's solo home run into the center-field bullpen that came with two outs in the bottom of the third and cut the Pirates' deficit to 5-1.
Mangum recorded two of Pittsburgh's four hits.
Jones hit Francisco Alvarez with a pitch to start the fourth and proceeded to walk A.J. Ewing and Francisco Lindor to load the bases, setting up Bichette's big knock.
Bichette then scored on a single by Jared Young to give New York a 9-1 edge.
One inning later, Alvarez padded the Mets' lead with his 13th home run of the season -- a solo blast off Pirates reliever Kirby Yates.
Luis Robert Jr. drove in four runs, the last one coming in the seventh on an RBI single off Gregory Soto.
Carson Benge returned to the Mets' lineup after a one-game absence due to left wrist soreness and opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI single.
Robert Jr. then plated Lindor with a sacrifice fly to give the Mets a 2-0 lead. He belted a two-run home run in the third to double the advantage.
Young had three of New York's 15 hits, while Benge and Robert Jr. added two apiece.
--Field Level Media