Mets offense explodes for 11-1 win over Pirates to take series

Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News on Aug 9, 2026

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

PITTSBURGH — When Bo Bichette signed with the New York Mets, he put immense pressure on himself to win. The converted third baseman has practically blamed himself for the club’s 2026 failings, saying if he had played better in the first half, maybe the Mets’ fortunes would have been better.

In what appears to be a reversal of fortunes from Saturday — and from the first half of the season, for that matter — the Mets absolutely crushed the Pittsburgh Pirates, using big performances at the plate by Bichette and the middle of the order, and a throwback performance by left-hander Sean Manaea.

The Pirates’ hopes of seeing the Bucs play in the postseason for the first time since the 2015 NL wild-card game are dwindling. Losing a series to a team 11.0 games out of the wild-card standings isn’t exactly inspiring. Losing 11-1 in the series finale is salt in the wound.

The Pirates went all-in at the trade deadline over the last few weeks, overhauling the bullpen. They even acquired right-handed setup man Luke Weaver from the Mets on Monday, despite Weaver wanting to stay with the Mets to help right the ship.

Yet it was the Pittsburgh rotation that fell apart in two of the three games against the Mets, though the Mets caught a break in the schedule by not having to face reigning Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes. Still, the Mets’ lineup is finally playing as intended, despite being without Juan Soto, who is out with a strained calf for the second time this season.

Bichette went 5 for 5 with two doubles, three RBI and a walk. Behind him, cleanup hitter Carson Benge, who returned to the lineup after missing Saturday with a jammed left wrist, went 2 for 5 with an RBI and a walk. Luis Robert Jr., hitting fifth, went 2 for 4 with a home run and four RBI, and Jared Young continued the chain by going 3 for 5 with a triple and an RBI.

Manaea (4-5) held the Pirates to just one run over seven innings, a solo shot by Jake Mangum with two outs in the third inning. It snapped a streak of six straight strikeouts by the veteran lefty, who went on to strike out a season-high 11, the most in nearly two years. The last time Manaea struck out 11 was August 27, 2024.

His fastball velocity was up around 94-95 as he carved through the Pittsburgh lineup, retiring 10 of the final 11 hitters he faced. The Pirates managed only three hits off of him.

The Mets (52-67) took two runs off right-hander Jared Jones in the first inning. They sent seven hitters to the plate, making him throw a lot of pitches early in the game. Robert hit a two-run, two-out homer in the third, his fifth on the season, to give the Mets a 4-0 lead, and Young tripled to keep the inning alive. Marcus Semien, who has been red hot lately, hit a single to left to score Young.

The Pirates (58-62) were sloppy, and the Mets capitalized. They scored four more runs in the fourth, knocking out Jones before he got an out, and continuing the rally against left-hander Evan Sisk. Francisco Alvarez homered in the fifth off Kirby Yates. Robert had an RBI single in the seventh off former Mets’ lefty Gregory Soto to cap the scoring.

Jones (2-4) was tagged for eight earned runs on six hits over three innings, walking three and striking out three.

Next, the Mets will continue this three-city road trip with a series in Atlanta, beginning Monday.

____