The Pirates split the middle two games but couldn’t hang on, dropping the series to the Mets two games to one at PNC Park. New York took the opener 6-to-4, but Pittsburgh answered in dominant fashion Saturday — Bubba Chandler tossed six strong innings, Jake Mangum racked up three hits, and the Pirates blanked the Mets 9-to-nothing.

Sunday reversed course in a hurry, though: Jared Jones loaded the bases without recording an out in the first inning, and New York cruised to an 11-to-1 win.

It capped a brutal stretch for Pittsburgh — 17 games in 17 days, and the Pirates finished it 5-and-12, dropping all five series along the way. Manager Don Kelly didn’t mince words afterward, saying the club simply needs to “play a little bit better baseball collectively.”

The Pirates get a much-needed off day Monday before opening a three-game series at the Miami Marlins Tuesday night at six-forty Eastern.

Original reporting: WESB (Bradford) — read the source article.