Mets torch Paul Skenes, beat Pirates in opener

Brett Baty's three-run triple highlighted a five-run first inning Thursday afternoon, when the host New York Mets chased reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes after just two outs on their way to an 11-7 Opening Day win.

Rookie Carson Benge and Francisco Alvarez hit back-to-back homers in the sixth for the Mets, who improved their baseball-best Opening Day record to 42-23. Brandon Lowe delivered a pair of round-trippers for the Pirates, who fell to 74-66 on Opening Day.

Lowe's two-run blast off Freddy Peralta gave the Pirates a short-lived lead before Skenes threw 37 pitches and was victimized by a pair of bad reads from center fielder Oneil Cruz, a converted shortstop, in the bottom of the inning.

Skenes issued a leadoff walk to Francisco Lindor and gave up a single to Juan Soto before Lindor trotted home on Bo Bichette's sacrifice fly. Jorge Polanco legged out an infield single and Luis Robert Jr. walked before Baty tripled over the head of Cruz, who took a couple steps in before racing back in unsuccessful pursuit.

Marcus Semien was then credited with a double when Cruz appeared to lose his fly ball in the sun. Skenes struck out Benge before exiting after plunking Alvarez, the ninth-place hitter.

The outing was by far the shortest of Skenes' three-year career and he was charged with five runs and four hits. He tossed two innings against the New York Yankees in the final start of his rookie campaign in 2024.

Soto and Robert bookended RBI singles around a bases-loaded walk by Polanco in the fifth.

The Mets' five newcomers - Bichette, Polanco, Robert, Semien and Benge - combined to go 6-for-19 with five walks. New York, which parted ways with veteran lineup anchors Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo in the off-season, drew nine walks overall and forced seven Pirates pitchers to throw 192 pitches.

Lowe homered again in the third while Henry Davis had an RBI double in the fifth. Ryan O'Hearn went deep in the sixth and Nick Gonzales ripped a two-run double in the ninth.

Peralta, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in January, allowed four runs on six hits and no walks while striking out seven in five innings. He was credited with a third-inning strikeout of Cruz after Alvarez, the catcher, successfully used an ABS challenge to overturn a ball four.

--Field Level Media