Aaron Loup ‘was essential’ for Mets’ well-deserved win



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PITTSBURGH – Seth Lugo and Edwin Diaz were unavailable a day after both relievers were pummeled by the Pirates, so the Mets turned to others for the big strikeouts on Sunday.

That meant Trevor May was working a scoreless ninth for his second save after Drew Smith, Miguel Castro, Aaron Loup and Jeurys Familia combined on a 7² / ₃ shutout.

Southpaw Loup continued his magic by pitching the fifth and sixth scoreless innings, escaping a goal-laden jam with no outs in the final period by striking out three straight batters against the top of the batting order.

“[Loup] was essential for this victory, ”said manager Luis Rojas after the Mets beat the Pirates, 7-6, at PNC Park. “This guy is throwing the ball so well this season and he must have come a bit early, but he did a good job for us and May came in and closed the door.”

A night earlier, Lugo and Diaz combined to allow nine runs over the final two innings in the Mets’ 9-7 loss. Sunday’s Herculean bullpen effort was needed after Taijuan Walker was called out in the first inning with the Mets behind, 6-0.

Aaron Wolf
Aaron Wolf
Bill Kostroun / New York Post

“I told Tai after he got out of the game, before we got to the paddock, that we were going to get him and wouldn’t care,” Wolf said. “As I loaded the goals, I was like, ‘We’re coming back into the game, the offense has picked us up, it’s 6-4 and we can’t go down like that.’ I managed to make some good throws and come out of it.


Jerad Eickhoff will start Monday’s game in Cincinnati. The right-hander last pitched on July 11, when he allowed two earned runs in a 2 / innings against the Pirates at Citi Field. Eickhoff’s biggest problem this season has been keeping the ball in the park – he has allowed six homers in 12 ² / ₃ innings.

Rojas has not announced a starter for Tuesday against the Reds, but has indicated that at least one more arm could come from Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets have an opening on the 26-man roster after Jacob deGrom was placed on the injured roster.

Carlos Carrasco threw between starts, according to Rojas, but the manager said he did not yet have information on the location of the right-hander’s next rehab appearance. Carrasco pitched two innings for Single-A Brooklyn on Thursday when he left rehab for the first time.

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