PITTSBURGH — Oneil Cruz led the Pittsburgh Pirates to a commanding 12-1 win over the New York Mets on Sunday, powering the team’s three-game sweep of a struggling Mets squad. Cruz’s two two-run homers helped ignite a strong offensive showing that marked a turning point in the series.
Ending a 14-game homerless streak, Cruz started the scoring surge with a home run during the Pirates’ five-run first inning against Mets starter Frankie Montas. He later extended the lead with his 15th homer of the season in the seventh inning, pushing Pittsburgh’s advantage to nine runs.
Pirates’ early offensive explosion sets tone against Mets
The Pirates scored all six of their first-inning runs with two outs, beginning with Ke’Bryan Hayes’ two-run single, followed immediately by homers from Cruz and Tommy Pham, each driving in two runs. This sequence overwhelmed Montas, who struggled through four innings and conceding six runs on seven hits.
Tommy Pham and Bryan Reynolds also contributed to the offensive outburst, with Reynolds hitting his 10th homer of the season, while catcher Henry Davis had a perfect 4-for-4 game at the plate. Pittsburgh added two more runs in the eighth inning to seal the dominant performance.
Strong pitching helps Pirates maintain control throughout game
Pirates starter Mike Burrows pitched 4.1 innings, allowing just one run while striking out five batters. Carmen Mlodzinski earned the win by pitching the final 3.2 innings and giving up only two hits. On the Mets’ side, Luis Torrens provided their lone run with a home run off Burrows in the fifth inning.
Series statistics highlight Mets’ struggles and Pirates’ resurgence
The Mets have now been outscored 30-4 over the three-game series, marking their 13th loss in 16 games. Entering the weekend, the Pirates had scored the fewest runs in the National League, but they have noticeably turned the tide by tallying 48 runs in their last seven games, including their first stretch with three consecutive games of at least nine runs since August 2019 in Colorado.
Upcoming matchups for Mets and Pirates
The Mets will open a three-game home series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, with right-hander Clay Holmes expected to start. The Brewers plan to counter with Freddy Peralta on the mound. Meanwhile, the Pirates begin a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, featuring left-hander Andrew Heaney against St. Louis starter Erick Fedde.