PITTSBURGH — The Pirates swept a two-game doubleheader against the New York Mets Tuesday night, winning both games by a 3-1 score. The Pirates have now won nine consecutive games against the Mets and went from trailing them by 1.5 in the Wild Card standings to leading by a half a game.
Niese Shuts Down His Former Club in Game One
Jon Niese spent 10 years in the Mets organization. Until his trade to the Pirates last off-season, it was the only team he had ever played for. So Niese admitted that there was “something extra” to his first matchup against his former club at PNC Park Tuesday afternoon.
Sometimes as a pitcher, that something extra isn’t a good thing. Controlling emotions on the mound can be just as important as controlling fastballs. Niese was able to do both. He pitched seven strong innings, giving up just four hits and two runs.
“It felt good,” Niese said of his performance against his former club. “I had a good game plan going in and [Cervelli] and I executed it. I tried to live at the bottom of the zone and was able to execute.”
Living in the bottom of the zone meant a lot of ground ball outs, even for Niese’s standards. He came into the game with a staff-leading 1.75 ground out-to-air out ratio and he delivered 14 more ground ball outs on the afternoon.
“I think a lot of it is trusting the process,” the said. “I’ve been working hard in between starts and selling out to what [Cervelli] and I have as far as our game plan. Executing in the bottom of the zone, getting early outs, being able to go deep into the game.”
“First pitch strikes put him in a good spot,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He retired 14 in three pitchers or less. A very blue-collar performance.”
It was an added bonus that Niese was able to perform at near his top level against players he knows so well.
“It was kind of weird, but it was fun,” he said. “All those guys were great over there. I got along well with all of them. I definitely miss them, but I’m enjoying my time here.”
J-HAY UP TOP
Josh Harrison was tapped as the leadoff hitter for Game 1 and he responded with a 3-for-4 performance that saw him score each of the Pirates’ first two runs. In the first inning, he led off the game with a triple to left center and scored on David Freese’s single. In the fifth inning, he singled, stole second, and scored on Andrew McCutchen’s single.
“He sparked us,” Hurdle said. “The average against left-handed pitching has been real this year.”
Harrison is hitting .341 against left-handers this season and .302 as a leadoff hitter.
“It’s just a good situation,” he said of the opportunity to get out to an early start against Jacob deGrom. “I came ready to play, ready to hit, and was able to put together some good at-bats and get on for guys behind me. Sometimes that’s all you need. If you get that starter on the ropes early, it turns into a good day.”
On Harrisons’ triple, third base coach Rick Sofield got a little bit emphatic calling for Harrison to slide.
Now THAT is how you coach third. https://t.co/vMdPzqLDHj pic.twitter.com/zmcBCttmws
— MLB (@MLB) June 7, 2016
“Honestly, I didn’t even notice it until I saw the video,” Harrison laughed. “Sometimes, we get in the moment, and just naturally, I’m going to slide. It’s more from the dugout when you can see it. It’s refreshing. It’s good to see that the coaching staff gets energized, as well.”
Nicasio Strikes Out Seven in Game Two Win
If Niese ground the Mets into oblivion with his down-low approach, Juan Nicasio was able to power right past them as he made his best performance in over a month, striking out seven Mets in just five innings of work.
Nicasio has been working on keeping his timing consistent from pitch-to-pitch throughout his starts.
“The rhythm was good the entire evening,” Hurdle said. “First pitch strikes put him in good counts. He didn’t give up a hit until the fifth inning. He had some strikeouts and some swing-and-miss stuff. It was a strong outing.”
Catcher Chris Stewart also emphasized Nicasio’s cadence on the mound as a reason for success.
“His pace was good,” Stewart said. “He’s working quickly, that way he’s not thinking too much, he can just worry about executing the pitches and be aggressive with his fastball in the zone. I think he did that great tonight. His pace was outstanding. He got a lot of strikeouts with his fastball.”
With the ground-ball approach emphasized by Niese still fresh in the Mets hitters’ minds, Hurdle said that Nicasio’s different approach was a bit of an advantage.
“When executed, it can make a difference because it can mess with the eye line, as far as tracking,” he said. “The first guy, Niese, you’re following down, you’re staying down. Nicasio was able to ride the elevator a little bit. … When they execute like that, the two looks can play to your benefit.”
DOUBLE DUTY
Relievers Neftali Feliz and Mark Melancon each pitched an inning of both games, with Melancon earning his 18th and 19th saves of the season.
Feliz had never experienced pitching twice in a day, while Melancon recalled getting up for a second appearance in a doubleheader last season, only to not be called on.
“It definitely feels good,” Feliz said through an interpreter. “After the first game, I approached [Hurdle] and told him, ‘I feel great and if you need me for the second game and trust me with the opportunity.’ I was able to give him my best.”
Feliz gave up one run, a solo home run to Curtis Grandson in the opener. It was the only run allowed in a combined six innings of work for the bullpen.
“If Feliz doesn’t get it done in the first game, Melancon never hits the mound, and if [Jared] Hughes, [Tony] Watson and Feliz don’t get it done, Melancon never hits the mound [in the second game],” Hurdle said. “Melancon continues to do things that make you go wow, he’s special.”
Melancon struck out four and induced two weak ground balls in his two perfect innings of work.
WALKER’S RETURN
Melancon’s final strikeout victim was Neil Walker, putting a fitting cap on the second baseman’s return. Walker went 1 for 4 in each of the two games with a pair of singles. Melancon said it was a different feeling having to send down his former teammate.
“I wanted to tip my cap to him, but I didn’t want to make it too obvious,” Melancon said. “He’s a great friend, he’s obviously a good guy and what he’s done for this place is tremendous. I’m happy for him.”
Walker was feted on the video board before his first plate appearance and was given a loud cheer from the 26,605 in attendance.
“It was more than I expected,” Walker said. “I thought it would be a good reception, but that was really, really special. … To come back and be received like that is something I’ll never forget.”
NOTES
**Center fielder Starling Marte left the first game of the doubleheader in the seventh inning. Manager Hurdle described his injury as an ankle contusion but did not have a further update. Marte did not play in Game 2.
**Right fielder Matt Joyce went a combined 0 for 5 with five strikeouts.
**Tony Watson got back on track after a poor three-appearance stretch with a drama-free seventh inning in Game 1.
