*Photo from NJ.com*
If this was Zack Wheeler's last start in a New York Mets uniform, he sure ended his time in Flushing with a bang. Wheeler struck out 7 batters as the Mets offense homered 4 times to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3. Wheeler was out the last 2 1/2 weeks with a shoulder issue, but quickly brushed off concerns about his injury. He averaged a 96 mph fastball as contenders looking for starting pitching watched closely. Manager Mickey Callaway said that ''I thought he threw the ball great, he held his stuff, and he said he felt outstanding when he came out.''
The Pirates jumped on the board in the second on Colin Moran's infield single that scored Josh Bell. In the 3rd, Jeff McNeil ripped a 3 run homer to erase Pittsburgh's lead and make it 3-1 Mets. In the 5th, Todd Frazier added a homer to make it 4-1. In the 6th, Pete Alonso and Wilson Ramos each hit solo shots for the 5th and 6th runs of the game for the Mets. The Pirates got their other two runs in the 6th, when Adam Frazier belted a 2 run homer to right field on the first pitch.
Pirates rookie Dario Agrazal took the loss for the Pirates, lasting 5 1/3 innings, giving up 5 runs on 4 hits. Manager Clint Hurdle said that ''We've had some challenges keeping the ball in the ballpark, it's been a rough stretch from that standpoint. He was pulled after allowing the homer to Alonso. His ERA rose from 2.25 to 3.24 in his 6th start. He said through a translator that ''I went out there with the same mentality, same game plan, same preparation, sometimes, it's just baseball. They have the bat as well.''
Wheeler, who can become a free agent at the end of the season, is expected to be dealt by the trade deadline in 4 days, and even has his bags packed at his home. He does have experience with the deadline. He heard rumors of him possibly traded last year, and was dealt to the Mets in 2011 by the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Carlos Beltran. Wheeler said that ''You just try to stay locked in, I've been through it before. It's just noise at this point. You just have to stay locked in. If you don't, you're going to go out there and do crappy.''
The Mets will give lefty Steven Matz the start on Saturday, who will make his third start this year after spending time in the bullpen. The Pirates counter with righty Trevor Williams.
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