Marcus Semien hit a three-run home run and Carson Benge drove in two more runs to lead the New York Mets to a 6-4 win over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
The Mets matched their season high with a fourth consecutive victory and handed the Pirates their fourth straight defeat, pushing them four games under .500 for the first time this season.
Semien’s homer was his 14th of the year and highlighted a four-run third inning for New York, which jumped out to a 6-0 lead and held off a late Pirates rally in the ninth.
Semien belted the homer over the left-center field wall off Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski (6-4), who struggled in his return to Pittsburgh’s rotation. Mlodzinski hadn’t started since May 25 and took the mound in place of Mitch Keller, who was recently lost with a season-ending injury.
Mlodzinski allowed five runs on seven hits and one walk and struck out one, exiting the game after three innings.
Benge drove in the first run of the third inning on an RBI single that scored Francisco Lindor. Jared Young kept the inning alive with a single that put runners on the corners for Semien.
Benge also drove in A.J. Ewing with an RBI single in the first inning. Lindor made it a 6-0 lead in the fourth on an RBI single that scored Ewing.
Rookie starter Zac Thornton (3-2) was solid for the Mets, tossing five scoreless innings and allowing four hits and two walks while striking out three.
The Pirates finally struck in the seventh on an RBI single by Jared Triolo. Pittsburgh loaded the bases with no outs and added another run on a sacrifice fly by Jake Mangum. But reliever Jefry Yan limited the damage by retiring Brandon Lowe on a pop up. Triolo was then thrown out at the plate trying to score on a wild pitch.
Ewing finished with three hits to lead the Mets. Bryan Reynolds, Triolo, Ronny Simon and Nick Gonzales each had two hits for the Pirates. Jacob Gonzalez also drove in a run with a single in the ninth off Devin Williams. Gonzalez was thrown out trying to advance to second. Williams then walked Mangum, and Brandon Lowe drove him in with a bloop single after he advanced to second on defensive indifference. Williams retired Reynolds on a groundout to second to end the game.
