Pirates score 4 runs or less for 20th straight game but it's enough to top Mets, avoid sweep

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been receiving largely solid starting pitching of late, with a club ERA of 2.28 in their last eight games dating to May 5.

Their record over that span? 2-6.

That, primarily, has been the result of a persistently underperforming offense, which sank the Pirates in their first two games against the New York Mets earlier this week, both one-run losses.

Looking to avoid a sweep Wednesday at Citi Field, the Pirates overcame an abbreviated start by Bailey Falter, riding a pair of two-run homers from Matt Gorski and Jared Triolo to a 4-0 win.

The two home runs off Mets starter Clay Holmes (5-2, 3.14 ERA) were enough to get the job done, but the Pirates still managed to score four runs or fewer for the 20th consecutive game, an ongoing franchise record.

Not since April 22 have the Pirates (15-29) scored at least five runs.

Despite not allowing any runs, Falter lasted a season-low 3 2/3 innings, tying his season-high in walks (five) with three hits and three strikeouts.

After he departed, Chase Shugart, Tanner Rainey, David Bednar and Dennis Santana covered the game’s remaining 5 1/3 innings.

With rain falling heavily, Gorski gave the Pirates a 2-0 lead in the second, lifting a two-out, 3-2 sweeper from Holmes to left-center field.

Gorski’s second homer of the year scored Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who had singled.

Falter loaded the bases in the first inning, walking a pair, but averted any damage, requiring 32 pitches to escape the frame.

While Falter’s command wasn’t elite early — he walked four through three innings — he preserved the Pirates’ two-run lead.

However, upon loading the bases in the fourth with a free pass to Luisangel Acuna, Falter was replaced after 78 pitches by Shugart with two outs.

Shugart put out the fire immediately, retiring Jose Azocar, closing the book on Falter’s night.

In the top of the fifth, the Pirates went ahead 4-0 after Triolo took Holmes deep for a two-run homer, scoring Ji Hwan Bae, who led off with a bunt single.

Shugart stayed on for the Pirates after recording the final out in the fourth, delivering scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth.

In 2 1/3 total innings out of the bullpen, he allowed one hit.

In the seventh, Rainey took over on the hill, allowing a two-out base hit but no other damage.

After Andrew McCutchen walked, followed by singles by Joey Bart and Alexander Canario, the Pirates had the bases loaded in the eighth with one out. But an opportunity to score more than four runs for the first time in three weeks came and went, as Kiner-Falefa struck out and Gorski popped out to end the frame.

The Pirates inserted Bednar in the bottom of the eighth, and he got the job done, recording a pair of strikeouts. Santana came on in the ninth for a non-save appearance and shut the door.

Shugart (2-3, 2.89 ERA) was the winning pitcher.