PITTSBURGH — Sean Manaea’s dominance Sunday elicited reminders of why the Mets gave him a $75 million contract in the first place.
Fastballs that registered 95 mph, swings and misses, and barely any solid contact for the Pirates. All of it resulted in Manaea’s best performance of the season, leading the Mets’ 11-1 victory at PNC Park. The win was the Mets’ fifth in six games and gave them two series victories to begin this three-city road trip.
Manaea began this season in the bullpen after a lackluster spring, but lately has resembled a solid middle-of-the-rotation option. On Sunday he was very ace-like in striking out 11 batters over seven innings in which he allowed one earned run on three hits.
Offensively, the Mets had no shortage of contributors. Bo Bichette had the biggest day, with a 5-for-5 performance with three RBIs. Luis Robert Jr. and Francisco Alvarez each homered.
Manaea’s start was his fourth straight of at least six innings with two earned runs or fewer allowed. The left-hander has pitched to a 3.39 ERA since May 10. Overall, he owns a 4.13 ERA this season.
A strong finish by Manaea might provide the Mets a measure of confidence. Manaea is signed through next season.
Former Mets prospect Jake Mangum homered against Manaea in the third inning for the Pirates’ only run against him. Manaea did not walk a batter, helping him to complete seven innings at 91 pitches.
Carson Benge – back in the lineup after missing the previous game with a bone bruise in his left wrist – delivered an RBI single in the first and Robert Jr.’s ensuing sacrifice fly gave the Mets a 2-0 lead. The Mets began the game by loading the bases with nobody out.
Robert smashed a two-run homer in the third before Marcus Semien followed Jared Young’s triple with an RBI single to extend the Mets’ lead to 5-0. Robert’s homer was his fifth this season.
The Mets broke it open by sending nine batters to the plate and scoring four runs in the fourth. After the Mets loaded the bases without a hit to begin the inning, Bichette delivered a bases-clearing double. Young’s RBI single sank the Pirates into a 9-1 hole.
Alvarez homered leading off the fifth for his 13th homer of the season and first since July 24.
