Robert Stock struggles, Mets offense shut out in loss to Pirates

Robert Stock could not duplicate his debut, allowing eight runs as the Mets dropped the second game of their series with the Pirates, 9-0, on Saturday night in Pittsburgh.

The loss snapped the Mets’ four-game winning streak.

Here are the takeaways…

-Stock immediately pitched into trouble in the first inning. A double, an infield single, which would have been a forceout if Bo Bichette covered third when Francisco Lindor picked it in the hole, and a hit batsman had the Pirates in business with the bases loaded and one out. Stock got Nick Gonzales to hit a dribbler down the first base line, but the groundout pushed across the game’s first run. Ronny Simon followed up by hitting an opposite-field double just fair down the left field line to score two more.

Stock would avoid another big inning — allowing one run in the third — but pitched into trouble again in the fourth. The Pirates pushed across another run after back-to-back hits to start the inning. Stock then walked back-to-back hitters to load the bases with no outs. Stock then threw a wild pitch way out of the zone, allowing the Pirates to get another run. 

A walk and a double plated two more, knocking Stock out of the game.

After tossing 70 pitches in five one-run innings in his debut, Stock tossed 80 pitches (52 strikes) in three-plus innings. He allowed eight runs on nine hits and five walks while striking out four. 

-On the other side, Bubba Chandler was the opposite of Stock, pitching six scoreless innings. He allowed three hits and one walk while striking out five batters. He lowered his ERA to 4.26.

Mets hitters mustered just three hits, all singles (Francisco Lindor, Luis Robert Jr., Francisco Alvarez). 

-With the Mets down eight runs in the fourth, interim manager Andy Green decided to take Lindor and Bo Bichette out of the game. Brett Baty, starting in right field, moved to third while newly acquired infielder Gabriel Arias came in to play shortstop. Cristian Pache came in to play right field. 

–Xzavion Curry came out in relief of Stock and pitched three scoreless innings, allowing a hit and four walks while striking out four. 

Catcher Luis Torrens was arguably the Mets’ best pitcher on this night. He allowed a solo homer to Brandon Lowe to lead off the seventh, but then allowed one more hit in his two innings of work. 

Game MVP: Bubba Chandler

Chandler didn’t need much, but he shut down the Mets.

What’s next

The Mets and Pirates complete their three-game series on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 1:35 p.m.

Sean Manaea (3-5, 4.33 ERA) will take the mound against Jared Jones (2-3, 4.02 ERA).