Tempers Heat, Benches Clear, Bats Cold, Mets Lose 4-1 In Pittsburgh

Coming off their first All-Star appearances, Bryan Reynolds homered and Adam Frazier hit a two-run single to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a testy 4-1 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night.

Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor left in the fifth inning with soreness on his right side — moments before a hot-tempered shoving match between the teams on the field.

Reynolds’ homer came in the seventh inning and pushed the lead to 4-1. It was his 17th of the season, setting a career high.

Frazier’s hit in the second opened the scoring. He and Reynolds became the first Pirates teammates to start in an All-Star Game on Tuesday since Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla in 1992.

Lindor winced after grounding out to second base in the fifth. He took a few steps out of the batter’s box but then peeled off toward the Mets’ dugout on the first base side.

In the bottom half, the benches cleared after Mets starter Marcus Stroman jumped high in the air when John Nogowski lined out to first base to end the inning.

Nogowski began shouting and pointing at Stroman, who walked toward him and barked back. No punches were thrown during a large scrum on the field, and there were no ejections.

Chad Kuhl (3-5) got the win despite issuing five walks in five innings. He allowed one unearned run and two hits while striking out three.

NL East-leading New York managed three hits against the Pirates, who are last in the NL Central. The teams split four games last weekend in New York.

Stroman (6-8) gave up just the two runs on Frazier’s single in five innings while scattering eight hits. He struck out two and walked none.

Richard Rodriguez pitched a scoreless ninth for his 13th save in 15 chances.

Wilmer Difo also homered for Pittsburgh, a drive to the back of the right field stands in the sixth off Drew Smith that made it 3-1. Difo, Reynolds and Jacob Stallings each had two hits for the Pirates.

The Mets got their run in the fourth when Pete Alonso walked and scored on Jonathan Villar’s groundout. After winning his second consecutive All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday night, Alonso reached base four times on a double and three walks.

The Mets and Pirates will continue their three-game set on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.

It will be a matchup of rookie right-handers when the Mets’ Tylor Megill (0-0, 3.50 ERA) faces Wil Crowe (1-5, 6.05). Megill will be making his fifth career start. Crowe has given up a run in the first or second inning in 11 of his 12 starts this season.