PITTSBURGH — The Mets were in the familiar position of disappointment following a blown lead by the bullpen Sunday, but they at least had a chance to rectify the matter.
Methodically, they built a rally in the ninth inning and then received the big hit they needed from Francisco Lindor, whose two-out, two-run single scored the tying and go-ahead runs in a 3-2 victory over the Pirates at PNC Park.
Lindor’s single buried former Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, a half-inning after Edwin Diaz flushed a one-run lead. Francisco Alvarez began the go-ahead rally with a leadoff walk and Harrison Bader singled.
Chapman struck out Mark Vientos and pinch-hitter Luis Torrens before Jose Iglesias walked to load the bases before Lindor reached base for the fourth time in the game with his two-run single.
After allowing two singles surrounding an out on a fouled bunt for strike three to open the eighth, Dedniel Nunez struck out Bryan Reynolds for the second out, prompting manager Carlos Mendoza to signal for Diaz, one day after the closer had returned from a 10-game suspension for violating MLB’s rules on foreign substances.
On Saturday, Diaz had a largely uneventful ninth with a three-run lead and received the save, but on this day he walked Joshua Palacios to load the bases before Nick Gonzales delivered a single through the shortstop hole for a two-run single that gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead.
Diaz returned to the mound after Lindor’s go-ahead hit and worked a perfect ninth.
Brandon Nimmo’s RBI double in the eighth against former Mets reliever Colin Holderman broke the scoreless deadlock.
Lindor drew a two-out walk before Nimmo delivered with a shot to left-center.
Sean Manaea gave the Mets six scoreless innings in which he allowed two hits and walked three with six strikeouts.
It was a second straight appearance for the left-hander of pitching at least six innings after going seven straight starts without reaching that mark.
The Mets were glad to see Luis Ortiz depart after the six innings.
The fireballing right-hander, in his second start of the season, allowed only four hits without walking a batter over six shutout innings.
Ortiz provided two scoring chances for the Mets: Lindor’s two-out single in the third got Vientos to third base before Nimmo struck out in a second straight at-bat.
Lindor doubled in the sixth and reached third on Nimmo’s ground out, but J.D. Martinez was retired to end the threat.
The Pirates put runners on base throughout against Manaea, but the lefty succeeded in avoiding damage. In the first, he walked two batters, but got Reynolds to hit into a double play that helped suffocate the inning.
In the second, Manaea missed the bag covering first base, allowing Ke’Bryan Hayes to reach leading off the inning, but followed with three straight outs.
Hayes got as far as third base, with a wild pitch and stolen base.
In the fifth, Joey Bart hit a shot past third base but was thrown out by left fielder Jeff McNeil trying to stretch it into a double.
Alvarez doubled in the seventh against Carmen Molodzinski, but both Vietnos and DJ Stewart were retired to keep the game scoreless.
Hayes singled against Reed Garrett leading off the bottom of the inning, but after pinch-hitter Oneil Cruz struck out pinch-hitter Rowdy Tellez grounded into a double play.
Iglesias singled in the eighth against Holderman, but was thrown out attempting to steal second.
Lindor followed with his walk that led to the Mets scoring.
