Pirates 5, Mets 3: Gaby Sanchez delivered a pinch-hit homer and singled home the tiebreaking run in the ninth as visiting Pittsburgh won the opener of the three-game series.

Catcher Russell Martin added a run-scoring double in the ninth and Jose Tabata had a pinch-hit RBI single for the Pirates, who also got two hits and a run apiece from Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen. Tony Watson (5-0) pitched a scoreless eighth and Mark Melancon worked around a leadoff homer to earn his 10th save as Pittsburgh improved to 5-1 in its last six.

New York wasted 6 2/3 scoreless innings and a pair of singles from rookie Jacob deGrom before Jose Valverde (1-1) and the bullpen imploded en route to falling to 7-17 in May. Lucas Duda homered and Daniel Murphy had an RBI single for the Mets, who fell to 11-17 at home.

New York scored twice in the fifth with a two-out rally started by deGrom, who singled to left before Juan Lagares drew a walk and Murphy singled. Right fielder Josh Harrison threw wildly past third as deGrom scored, but Pedro Alvarez recovered to throw out Lagares at the plate - only to have the play overturned when it was ruled that Martin blocked the plate.

Pittsburgh rallied against New York's bullpen on Sanchez's pinch-hit blast off Scott Rice in the eighth before Starling Marte doubled off Valverde and scored on Tabata's pinch-hit single. Valverde ran into more trouble in the ninth, giving up a one-out single to Walker and walking McCutchen before Sanchez grounded a single to left, with both runners scoring when left fielder Curtis Granderson's throw got past catcher Juan Centeno.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Mets made two moves immediately after the game, releasing Valverde and firing hitting coach Dave Hudgens, who will be replaced by Lamar Johnson. ... DeGrom became the first pitcher in franchise history to get a hit in each of his first three career games. ... Pirates RHP Brandon Cumpton gave up one earned run in six innings while 1B Ike Davis, acquired from New York last month, went 0-for-2 to snap his six-game hitting streak. ... The Mets placed OF Eric Young Jr. (right hamstring) on the 15-day disabled list and promoted OF Matt den Dekker from Triple-A Las Vegas. ... RHP Noah Syndergaard, New York's top pitching prospect who is 5-2 at Las Vegas, is headed to New York to be examined for a mild flexor-pronator strain on the inside of his right elbow.