Harrison’s double lifts Bucs

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Josh Harrison doubled home the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 3-2 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night.

Jordy Mercer hit a two-run single for the Pirates (41-39), who moved two games above .500 for the first time since April 10. They have won the first two games of the four-game series.

Pinch-hitter Clint Barmes drew a one-out walk from former Pittsburgh reliever Vic Black (1-2) in the 11th. Mercer struck out before Harrison hit a drive to the 375-foot sign in right-center, scoring Barmes without a throw.

Harrison entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh and squirmed his way out of a rundown in the 10th on a wild play that drew an argument from Mets manager Terry Collins, who thought Harrison should have been ruled out for running outside the baseline.

He was called safe, however, putting Pirates runners at second and third with none out. Jenrry Mejia pitched out of the jam by getting two strikeouts and a fly to right.

Black, acquired from the Pirates late last season in a trade, wasn’t as fortunate in the 11th.

Harrison and teammate Russell Martin each had two hits. Jared Hughes (4-2) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.

Lucas Duda hit a two-run single and rookie Travis d’Arnaud had three hits for the Mets, who played without seven-time All-Star David Wright. The third baseman was scratched about 90 minutes before the first pitch with a sore left shoulder and will return to New York on Saturday for an MRI.

Wright, riding a 10-game hitting streak, said the shoulder has been nagging him for a couple of weeks.

Both rookie starters did not figure in the decision but pitched well. New York’s Jacob deGrom gave up two runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings. Pittsburgh’s Brandon Cumpton allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings.

Cumpton is 3-0 with a 2.97 ERA in five June starts after giving up 11 runs in 32/3 innings on May 31 in a loss at Dodger Stadium.

Duda opened the scoring in the fourth, and Mercer answered in the bottom half.

NOTES

The Pirates traded RHP Jason Grilli to the Los Angeles Angels for RHP Ernesto Frieri. Both pitchers were removed as their team’s closer on May 20. . Pittsburgh will activate RHP Gerrit Cole (6-3, 3.64 ERA) from the disabled list today to start against LHP Jonathon Niese (4-4, 2.78). Cole has been sidelined since June 4 with right shoulder fatigue. ... Pirates LF Starling Marte did not start for a third straight game because of a jammed right middle finger, but he pinch-ran in the seventh inning and will likely start today. ... Mets OF Chris Young got an increasingly rare start against a right-handed pitcher, playing left field in place of Eric Young Jr. Collins wanted to get Young in the lineup after he hit three home runs in two games against Oakland this week.