Chandler sharp as Pirates halt losing skid
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bubba Chandler allowed three hits in six innings, Jake Mangum had three hits and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the New York Mets 9-0 on Saturday night to end a four-game skid.
Chandler (5-8) struck out five and walked one on 85 pitches — 58 for strikes. The 23-year-old former top prospect has surrendered seven earned runs in 26 2/3 innings over his past five starts.
Mangum had two doubles, a single and a stolen base. Nick Gonzales drove in three runs for the Pirates, who hadn’t scored more than four in seven straight games since an 8-7 loss at the Reds on July 31.
Robert Stock (0-2) lasted three innings for the Mets, being charged for eight runs on nine hits and five walks with four strikeouts.
Mangum led off the first with a double off the right-field wall and scored from third when Gonzales grounded back to Stock with the bases loaded. Ronny Simon then slipped a two-out double just inside third base and down the line, tacking on two more.
In the third, Simon reached on a well-placed bunt, stole second and scored on a bloop single to right from Jacob Gonzalez.
Pittsburgh added four runs before recording an out in the fourth. Mangum lined an RBI double to left and scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded. Stock walked Spencer Horwitz to reload the bases and was pulled after Gonzales lined a two-run double into the right-field corner.
Mets catcher Luis Torrens pitched the final two innings and was welcomed by Brandon Lowe sending a 42-mph pitch 380 feet to right for his 25th homer.