Mets substitutes too much for Bucs

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Even against a makeshift lineup, Charlie Morton and the Pittsburgh Pirates couldn’t stop the New York Mets from slapping one ball after another through the infield.

Josh Thole hit a tiebreaking double in the seventh inning and the depleted Mets, minus Jose Reyes, beat Pittsburgh 7-3 on Monday night, dropping the Pirates to 0-8 at Citi Field.

“They just him ’em where we weren’t. I think they got eight groundball hits,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said.

Dillon Gee (5-0) pitched seven solid innings, striking out a career-high eight in the rookie’s latest impressive outing, and New York had another productive day at the plate.

The Mets banged out a season-high 17 hits Sunday to prevent a three-game sweep by Philadelphia, then followed up with 15 against Morton and the Pirates.

“I was in a position that I just didn’t want to be in very often,” Morton said. “Guys in scoring position, guys on the bases all the time. I feel like I pitched out of the stretch 90 percent of the time.”

This time, New York did its damage with only three regulars in the lineup for the opener of a four-game series. Reyes was placed on the bereavement list earlier in the day following his grandmother’s death and left fielder Jason Bay was given a planned day off.

The only regular starters in the lineup were Thole, right fielder Carlos Beltran and center fielder Angel Pagan.