New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates

The Mets haven’t had many reasons to celebrate in what has been a bitterly disappointing season. However, they could enjoy their best week of the season. The Mets routed the Pirates 11-1 on Sunday at PNC Park to take two of three games in the series. That came after the Mets swept a three-game series against the Guardians in Cleveland. The Mets will try to keep the momentum going in the final leg of their three-city road trip as they begin a three-game series in Atlanta on Monday night against the National League East-leading Braves. The Mets hoped to be challenging the Braves for the division lead. Instead, they are in last place in the division with a 52-67 record. However, the Mets showed again on Sunday that they are doing more than just playing out the string of the season. They got contributions from numerous players. “We have a lot of baseball in front of us, and I think it’s in everybody’s interest and desire to play hard, find the best versions of themselves and finish strong,” third baseman Bo Bichette said. Luis Robert Jr. and Francisco Alvarez hit home runs. Robert’s two-run blast in the third inning off Jared Jones (2-4) pushed the lead to 4-0. Alvarez made it 10-1 when he led off the fifth with a solo shot off Kirby Yates. Bichette went 5-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBIs on a bases-loaded double in the fourth to lead the Mets’ 15-hit outburst. Jared Young had three hits, and Robert drove in four runs. Carson Benge, back in the lineup after missing Saturday’s 9-0 loss with a jammed left wrist, had two hits, as did Robert. Bichette has had a disappointing first season with the Mets after signing as a free agent in the offseason. He is hitting .263 -- 27 points below his .290 career average -- with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs in 118 games. The Mets provided plenty of cushion for left-hander Sean Manaea (4-5), who pitched seven dominant innings. He allowed one run -- a solo homer by Jake Mangum in the third inning -- and three hits while striking out 11 and not issuing a walk.