Final score: Pirates 4, Mets 1—Hitters walk the plank

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports Marcus Stroman gave up eight hits over five innings of streaky work to the Pirates lineup but limited the damage to two runs. The Mets offense was not up to the task against a struggling Chad Kuhl, however, as the team dropped a 4-1 game Friday night in Pittsburgh. The Mets scored their only run in a hitless fourth inning and failed to record a hit with a runner in scoring position all game.

Making matters worse, Francisco Lindor left the game in the top of the fifth, grabbing his right side after a groundout to second base in what the team is calling “right side soreness.” The bottom of the fifth provided the most exciting sequence of events, with Ben Gamel…