Chandler cruises through 6 innings as Pirates beat Mets 9-0 to end 4-game skid

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bubba Chandler allowed three hits in six innings, Jake Mangum had three hits and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the New York Mets 9-0 on Saturday night to end a four-game skid.

Chandler (5-8) struck out five and walked one on 85 pitches — 58 for strikes. The 23-year-old former top prospect has surrendered seven earned runs in 26 2/3 innings over his past five starts.

Mangum had two doubles, a single and a stolen base. Nick Gonzales drove in three runs for the Pirates, who hadn’t scored more than four in seven straight games since an 8-7 loss at the Reds on July 31.

Robert Stock (0-2) lasted three innings for the Mets, being charged for eight runs on nine hits and five walks with four strikeouts.

Mangum led off the first with a double off the right-field wall and scored from third when Gonzales grounded back to Stock with the bases loaded. Ronny Simon then slipped a two-out double just inside third base and down the line, tacking on two more.

In the third, Simon reached on a well-placed bunt, stole second and scored on a bloop single to right from Jacob Gonzalez.

Pittsburgh added four runs before recording an out in the fourth. Mangum lined an RBI double to left and scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded. Stock walked Spencer Horwitz to reload the bases and was pulled after Gonzales lined a two-run double into the right-field corner.

Mets catcher Luis Torrens pitched the final two innings and was welcomed by Brandon Lowe sending a 42-mph pitch 380 feet to right for his 25th homer.

Pirates RHP Jared Jones (2-3, 4.02 ERA) was set to start the series finale Sunday against Mets LHP Sean Manaea (3-5, 4.33).

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Pittsburgh Pirates' Nick Gonzales hits a double with bases loaded off New York Mets pitcher Robert Stock, driving in two runs, during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

New York Mets pitcher Robert Stock walks off the mound after handing the ball to manager Andy Green during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Ronny Simon celebrates after driving in two runs with a double off New York Mets pitcher Robert Stock during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Jake Mangum (28) celebrates on second base after leading off the baseball game with a double off New York Mets pitcher Robert Stock during the first inning in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

LONDON (AP) — FIFA has issued a statement defending its president, Gianni Infantino, against what it calls a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine his leadership of the organization.

The statement was released Saturday, a day after a report by British newspaper The Daily Telegraph raising questions about an exit package paid by UEFA to a female staffer who worked with Infantino when he was general secretary of European soccer’s governing body.

UEFA confirmed that a “departure payment” was made to the employee and said it was “in line” with regulations at the time.

Infantino worked at UEFA for 16 years before being elected FIFA president.

In the statement Saturday, FIFA accused Infantino’s critics of trying to weaken his authority and remove him from office without due process.

“It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president,” the FIFA statement said. “Those who do not have the support of FIFA’s member associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through FIFA’s established democratic processes.”

It said some reporting has included “unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims” which shouldn't be presented as fact.

“Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of FIFA’s president or the institution he was elected to lead.”

Infantino faced intense backlash after details of his plan to sell World Cup profits to private equity were published. UEFA and two other continental confederations — North America’s CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation — rejected the plan.

He did receive backing from FIFA’s management board last Wednesday following a meeting in Morocco, and he apologized over the process. UEFA’s threat to have its 55 member countries boycott FIFA competitions until the plan was scrapped remained, with UEFA saying Thursday that the announcement “changes nothing.”

While confirming the exit payment “was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time,” UEFA said the rules had been tightened since 2016 and currently “reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organization.”

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

FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino makes comments during the opening ceremony of the International Broadcast Center, June 1, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)