David Peterson gets shellacked as Mets take ugly loss to Pirates

PITTSBURGH — The Mets have four starting pitchers on the injured list and another key rotation member in a slump. 

It’s hardly an ideal formula for success. 

David Peterson, who had assumed the role of rotation ace with Kodai Senga sidelined, turned in a second straight clunker Friday night, burying the Mets early in a 9-1 loss to the Pirates at PNC Park. 

The Mets, who seemed back on track after winning two straight against the Braves to earn a series split (they had previously lost 10 of 11 games), didn’t offer much resistance at the plate.

They finished 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position on a night when Mark Vientos returned from an IL stint. Vientos went hitless in four at-bats with two strikeouts. 

Earlier in the day, Griffin Canning underwent surgery for a ruptured left Achilles that will cost him the remainder of the season. The right-hander joined Senga, Tylor Megill and Sean Manaea among Mets starting pitchers on the IL. 

Peterson lasted 4 ²/₃ innings and allowed five earned runs on seven hits with three walks. It was a second straight start in which Peterson failed to complete five innings.

The left-hander surrendered four runs over four innings against the Phillies in his previous start. 

Peterson walked Joey Bart with one out in the third to start a rally in which the Pirates sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs.

Ke’Bryan Hayes and Jared Triolo delivered consecutive singles to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead before Alexander Canario hit a shot to right field on which Juan Soto started inward. Soto was forced to retreat, with the ball sailing over his head for an RBI double. 

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Isiah Kiner-Falefa followed with an RBI single that gave the Pirates a 3-0 lead.

Tommy Pham’s RBI fielder’s choice delivered the inning’s fourth run before Peterson allowed his fifth hit of the inning, a single to Andrew McCutchen.

Peterson finally recorded the third out without another run scoring. 

Soto homered leading off the fourth to slice the Mets’ deficit to 4-1.

The blast was Soto’s 20th of the season and gave him 11 this month. Soto began the night with a 1.223 OPS in June. 

Hayes smashed an RBI double in the fifth that sank the Mets into a 5-1 hole.

The trouble started with Bryan Reynolds’ leadoff double.

After Peterson was removed, Blade Tidwell — who is scheduled to join the rotation next week against the Brewers — entered to get the final out in the inning. Tidwell pitched 3 ¹/₃ innings and surrendered four runs. 

Reynolds blasted a three-run homer against Tidwell in the sixth that turned the game into an 8-1 runaway. Pham delivered an RBI single in the seventh that added to the Mets’ misery.