Freese drives in all five runs in Pirates’ win

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

David Freese drove in five runs, including an RBI single in the ninth inning that lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates over the New York Mets 5-4 on Friday.

Freese homered in going 3 for 3 with two walks, helping the Pirates win for the 12th time in 14 games.

The Mets had won three in a row. They beat the Pirates 12-6 Thursday night behind Asdrubal Cabrera’s homer and two doubles — Cabrera was traded to Philadelphia on Friday.

Josh Harrison led off the Pittsburgh ninth with an infield single against rookie reliever Tim Peterson (2-2). A single by Gregory Polanco put runners at the corner and Elias Diaz was intentionally walked to load the bases. Freese hit a drive over center fielder Brandon Nimmo for the win.

Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez (4-2) got the win after striking out two in a scoreless ninth.

After Freese gave the Pirates a 4-3 lead with a two-out, two-run single up the middle with the bases loaded in the fifth, the Mets loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth.

Reliever Edgar Santana struck out Kevin Plawecki and had a chance to get out of the inning when Jose Reyes sharply lined out to left fielder Jordan Luplow. Michael Conforto paused after charging from third, but Luplow’s throw sailed to the backstop, allowing Conforto to continue and beat the tag at home, tying it at 4.

Mets reliever Seth Lugo gave up the go-ahead single to Freese in the fifth, after replacing starter Jason Vargas.