PITTSBURGH — Coming off their first All-Star appearances, Bryan Reynolds homered and Adam Frazier hit a two-run single to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a testy 4-1 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night.
Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor left in the fifth inning with soreness on his right side — moments before a hot-tempered shoving match between the teams on the field.
Reynolds’ homer came in the seventh inning and pushed the lead to 4-1. It was his 17th of the season, setting a career high.
Frazier’s hit in the second opened the scoring. He and Reynolds became the first Pirates teammates to start in an All-Star Game on Tuesday since Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla in 1992.
Lindor winced after grounding out to second base in the fifth. He took a few steps out of the batter’s box but then peeled off toward the Mets’ dugout on the first base side.
In the bottom half, the benches cleared after Mets starter Marcus Stroman jumped high in the air when John Nogowski lined out to first base to end the inning.
Nogowski began shouting and pointing at Stroman, who walked toward him and barked back. No punches were thrown during a large scrum on the field, and there were no ejections
Chad Kuhl (3-5) got the win despite issuing five walks in five innings. He allowed one unearned run and two hits while striking out three.
NL East-leading New York managed three hits against the Pirates, who are last in the NL Central. The teams split four games last weekend in New York.
Stroman (6-8) gave up just the two runs on Frazier’s single in five innings while scattering eight hits. He struck out two and walked none.
Richard Rodriguez pitched a scoreless ninth for his 13th save in 15 chances.
Wilmer Difo also homered for Pittsburgh, a drive to the back of the right field stands in the sixth off Drew Smith that made it 3-1. Difo, Reynolds and Jacob Stallings each had two hits for the Pirates.
The Mets got their run in the fourth when Pete Alonso walked and scored on Jonathan Villar’s groundout. After winning his second consecutive All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday night, Alonso reached base four times on a double and three walks.
DeGROM UPDATE
The Mets have yet to determine when ace Jacob deGrom will make his next start.
He threw a light bullpen before the game, which would line him up to pitch Monday at Cincinnati. However, the Mets have not announced a starter for Sunday’s series finale with the Pirates and deGrom could get the nod.
DeGrom is 7-2 with a major league-leading 1.08 ERA in 15 starts this season despite being hampered by multiple ailments. He last pitched July 7 against Milwaukee.
“We want him to take the time off from a medical standpoint to come in fresher for the second half,” manager Luis Rojas said.
ROSTER MOVES
Mets: Activated INF J.D. Davis from the injured list and designated OF Billy McKinney for assignment. Davis had been out since May 2 with a hand injury.
Rojas has no set plan on how he will divide playing time at third base between Davis and Villar, who started there Friday.
“When I get the opportunity, I’ll bang,” said Davis, who struck out in the seventh as a pinch-hitter.
McKinney hit .220 with five home runs in 39 games after being acquired from Milwaukee on May 26 in a trade.
LHP Stephen Tarpley was released. He allowed two runs without getting an out in his lone relief appearance.
Pirates: INF/OF Philip Evans was activated from the concussion IL and RHP Nick Mears was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis, while INF/OF Cole Tucker was optioned to Indianapolis. Evans had been sidelined since July 6.
The Pirates had a roster spot open after placing LHP Sam Howard (right oblique strain) on the injured list Tuesday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: RHP Carlos Carrasco (strained right hamstring) is tentatively scheduled to make a rehab start Tuesday for a farm club to be determined. On the IL since the beginning of the season, Carrasco pitched two scoreless innings for High-A Brooklyn on Thursday in his first rehab outing, allowing one hit and striking out two. … RHP Corey Oswalt (right hamstring strain) is rehabbing at the spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and had an injection to reduce swelling in his leg.
Pirates: RHP Duane Underwood Jr. (right side discomfort) threw a bullpen Thursday. … RF Gregory Polanco (bilateral adductor strain) has started running the bases.
UP NEXT
It will be a matchup of rookie right-handers Saturday night when the Mets’ Tylor Megill (0-0, 3.50 ERA) faces Wil Crowe (1-5, 6.05). Megill will be making his fifth career start. Crowe has given up a run in the first or second inning in 11 of his 12 starts this season.
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