Andrew McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds hit consecutive two-run doubles during a six-run eighth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates pulled away for a 9-2 victory over the struggling New York Mets.

With two outs in the second, a severe thunderstorm hit PNC Park, delaying the game for one hour, 29 minutes; when the tarp finally came off, the Pirates opted to lift their starter and the Mets, desperate for some length, opted to stick with Blackburn. It bit them.

Then it rained in the top of the second inning, and after a delay of 1 hour, 29 minutes, the Pirates changed pitchers. Mendoza stood pat with Paul Blackburn. In the end the Mets were left soggy. Blackburn got stomped right out of the delay and the lineup continued its pattern of disappointment in a 9-2 loss to the lowly Pirates at PNC Park,