The Mets took their first home sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 2010 with an 8-7 win on the back of a big offensive-explosion early. >> Box score
Five takeaways from Sunday's game
1) Right out of the gate, the Mets got a scare. Potential batting title candidate Jeff McNeil was hit with a pitch near the shin and limped over to first base. McNeil ran the bases, but then was replaced by Aaron Altherr. Despite that, McNeil only suffered a shin contusion, the team announced a short time later. After the game, McNeil told reporters he does not anticipate missing extensive time.
2) Michael Conforto broke a scoreless tie with some power for the second-straight game. After breaking a stalemate in the sixth-inning on Saturday, Conforto made McNeil's trip around the bags a big easier with a two-run home run one at-bat later. Conforto's bomb brought him to 20 homers on the season and 96 in his career, which puts him No. 15 on the team's all-time home run list.
3) JD Davis also had another Mets' feat for the second-straight game with another multi-hit game. After a home run and double on Saturday, Davis had two singles and an RBI on Sunday, which came in the Mets' six-run first inning. Following Conforto's homer, Todd Frazier knocked in Robinson Cano and then Davis scored Wilson Ramos. Frazier then scored on a single by Amed Rosario and Davis was the final run of the inning when he scored on a sacrifice fly by Altherr.
With Dom Smith on the 10-day IL, Davis will likely see extended playing time over the next week.
4) Jason Vargas grabbed the win for the Mets, bringing him to 6-5 on the year. Vargas pitched 5.2 inning, allowing six hits and three runs with five strikeouts. That could be Vargas' last stand, though. SNY's Andy Martino reported during the contest that Vargas "will probably be traded" ahead of Wednesday's trade deadline.
5) The Mets' bullpen kept things interesting. In the final inning, the relief squad allowed four runs. Tyler Bashlor only managed one out in the final inning while allowing three runs to score, including a two-run home run by Bryan Reynolds. Then Edwin Diaz tried to stop the bleeding and entered the game with one runner on. The closer allowed a two-run homer to left field by Jose Osuna. Diaz managed to escape with the save though, sending down the next two batters. Also pitching in stronger relief efforts were Seth Lugo (1.1 IP, 2 strikeouts) and Justin Wilson (1 IP, strikeout).
Video: Mets on McNeil injury, trade speculation
Highlights
Video: WATCH: Michael Conforto smacks a two-run HR
What's next
The Mets have Monday off and then one final game before Wednesday's 4 p.m. trade deadline on Tuesday as they head to Chicago to face the White Sox. Noah Syndergaard (7-5, 4.33) is slated to start for the Mets against Reynaldo Lopez (5-59, 5.52).