Neil Walker accepts congratulations from his teammates after one of his two home runs in the Mets' 8-1 win on Friday night.
PITTSBURGH — Neil Walker was back where everybody knew his name Friday night, eliciting plenty of cheers — from his own dugout.
Born and bred in this city before playing the first seven seasons of his major league career with the Pirates, the 31-year-old Walker resembled Daniel Murphy returning to Citi Field, blasting two home runs that led an 8-1 Mets victory at PNC Park.
After losing two straight games to the putrid Padres, the Mets needed the energy burst.