Rookie Taillon dominates Mets in second career start

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Jameson Taillon took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning of his second major league start, dominating the New York Mets while pitching the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-0 victory that snapped their five-game losing streak Tuesday night.

Jung Ho Kang and Starling Marte each hit a two-run homer for the Pirates, backing eight efficient innings of two-hit ball from an impressive Taillon. One of baseball’s top pitching prospects, the sturdy right-hander held New York hitless until Curtis Granderson grounded a leadoff single in the seventh, squeezing it through the shift between two diving infielders on the outfield grass.

Taillon (1-0) was recalled from the minors before the game when Pittsburgh put ace Gerrit Cole on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right triceps. The touted rookie certainly showed what all the fuss is about, outpitching All-Star Jacob deGrom (3-3) in a rematch with the defending NL champions.

The second overall pick in the 2010 amateur draft, the 24-year-old Taillon featured a 95 mph fastball and sharp curve in the opener of a three-game series between 2015 playoff teams.

Taillon missed the past two seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery and a sports hernia operation. He made his long-awaited big league debut last Wednesday in Pittsburgh against the Mets, allowing three runs and six hits over six innings in a no-decision.

The Pirates lost 6-5 in 10 innings, ending their nine-game winning streak over the Mets, and Taillon was optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis the following day. But once they arrived at Citi Field, the Pirates got back to their winning ways against New York and stopped their longest skid of the season.

James Loney’s clean single with one out in the eighth was the only other hit off Taillon, who needed only 91 pitches to get through eight innings. He struck out five and walked one, sending the banged-up Mets to their third consecutive defeat.

Tony Watson worked around a leadoff double by pinch-hitter Matt Reynolds in the ninth to finish the three-hitter.

Marte singled with two outs in the sixth before Kang homered to left-center off deGrom, who fell to 0-3 in eight starts since winning his first three of the season. Pitching in tough luck, the right-hander hasn’t won since April 30 against San Francisco.

Gregory Polanco drew a leadoff walk in the eighth, and Marte homered off reliever Jim Henderson.

UP NEXT

Noah Syndergaard (6-2, 2.00 ERA) pitches for New York against LHP Jeff Locke (5-4, 5.38) in the middle game of the series tonight.