Pirates hit 2 homers off Holmes and blank Mets 4-0 to prevent 3-game sweep

NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Gorski and Jared Triolo each connected for a two-run homer off New York Mets starter Clay Holmes, and the Pittsburgh Pirates finally mustered some offense in a 4-0 victory Wednesday night at rainy Citi Field.

Five pitchers combined on a six-hitter as the last-place Pirates (15-29) won for the fourth time in 17 games to prevent a series sweep. They're 3-3 under Don Kelly, promoted from bench coach to manager when Derek Shelton was fired last week.

Rookie right-hander Chase Shugart (2-3) tossed 2 1/3 innings in relief of wild starter Bailey Falter for his second career win. It was the fourth shutout this year for Pittsburgh, which has gone a franchise-record 20 games in a row without scoring more than four runs.

With slugger Juan Soto getting his first night off this season, the NL East-leading Mets were blanked for the second time. Next stop, a weekend Subway Series against the crosstown-rival Yankees — with both New York teams in first place.

Facing his original major league club, Holmes (5-2) gave up homers to Gorski with rain falling in the second and then Triolo in the fifth. The converted reliever had won three straight starts and five consecutive decisions.

The first pitch was delayed 15 minutes because of wet weather.

Pittsburgh center fielder Oneil Cruz missed his fourth straight game with lower back tightness. He remains day-to-day but is getting a lot better, Kelly said.

Falter walked four of his first 10 batters and five overall in 3 2/3 innings. But he left the bases loaded by striking out Luis Torrens in the first. Shugart entered with the bags full again in the fourth and retired José Azócar to end the inning.

Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds, a two-time All-Star with a $106.75 million contract, is mired in an 0-for-21 slump. He has two hits in his last 45 at-bats, dropping his season average to .194.

Pirates: Following a day off, Pittsburgh opens a three-game series in Philadelphia with LHP Andrew Heaney (2-3, 3.15 ERA) on the mound Friday night against Phillies LHP Ranger Suárez (1-0, 5.91).

Mets: RHP Tylor Megill (3-3, 3.10 ERA) pitches Friday night at Yankee Stadium against LHP Carlos Rodón (4-3, 3.29).

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Pittsburgh Pirates' Joey Bart hits a single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) reacts as Pittsburgh Pirates' Jared Triolo runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana (60) celebrates with Jared Triolo (19) and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (7) after a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae runs to first base after bunting for a single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Matt Gorski (62) runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Matt Gorski (62) runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

CHICAGO (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo returned Saturday night from the right calf strain that kept the two-time MVP from playing in the Milwaukee Bucks’ previous eight games.

Antetokounmpo was in the starting lineup for the Bucks’ game against the Chicago Bulls, after the team upgraded him after originally listing him as questionable on the injury report.

Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said before the game the nine-time All-Star won’t be thrown back into the grind right away.

“He’ll be on a minutes restriction,” Rivers said.

Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since injuring his calf less than three minutes into the Bucks’ 113-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 3. The injury came on Antetokounmpo’s fourth game back after a left adductor strain caused him to miss four games.

“Maybe it was a mistake of me coming back a little bit earlier, because once I come back, now you’re overcompensating,” Antetokounmpo said on Dec. 18. “The only way you can pop your soleus is by overcompensating and then having an extreme amount of load or play a lot of games in a short period of time. Again, I think all of the things that I was thinking and trying to come back led to the incident that I had with my soleus.”

The Bucks have gone 2-6 in the eight games Antetokounmpo has missed because of the calf issue. So far this season, the Bucks are 9-8 with Antetokounmpo and 3-11 without him.

Antetokounmpo, who turned 31 on Dec. 6, has averaged 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists this season.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

FILE - Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts after suffering an injury during the first half an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kylie Bridenhagen, File)