MUSGROVE TERRIFIC, BUT OFFENSE STALLS IN LOSS

RIGHTY ALLOWS ONE RUN OVER SEVEN INNINGS IN FINAL GAME BEFORE DEADLINE

Joe Musgrove made a strong seven-inning start, but right-hander Zack Wheeler struck out seven over six scoreless innings and the Pirates managed only six hits in a 1-0 loss to the Mets on Sunday afternoon at PNC Park. The Bucs have still won 15 of their last 19 games, putting them in the postseason race after an up-and-down-and-back-up four months.

Now comes a season-defining stretch for the Pirates.

Pittsburgh is in position to add prior to Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET non-waiver Trade Deadline, and general manager Neal Huntington said again on Sunday that he would "love to add" to a club four games out of the second National League Wild Card spot.

The Pirates' recent surge up the standings has instilled confidence in their clubhouse that they have enough pieces to contend without making any major moves.

But the Bucs have seen the Cubs add a starter (Cole Hamels) and a reliever (Jesse Chavez). They've watched the Brewers add a slugger (Mike Moustakas) and an experienced reliever (Joakim Soria). The Pirates still want to surpass both clubs over the next two months. And when the Astros acquired Justin Verlander last August, Musgrove saw first-hand the ideal impact of a new acquisition.

Three hours after Tuesday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, the Pirates will begin a critical stretch of their schedule. They'll host the Cubs for two games at PNC Park, facing Jon Lester and the recently acquired Hamels. In fact, 28 of their next 30 games -- a stretch that carries them into September -- will take place against teams currently in the postseason race.

The Pirates' pitching and defense was clicking on Sunday, with Musgrove recording 11 groundouts as he completed seven innings for the fourth time in his last five starts. The Mets' only run came on an RBI double by Wheeler, a potential trade candidate who continued a dominant stretch on the mound.

Meanwhile, the Pirates' injuries may have caught up to them on Sunday. Playing without first baseman Josh Bell or left fielder Corey Dickerson, and with center fielder Starling Marte having returned quickly from a badly bruised left hand, Pittsburgh got three hits from Gregory Polanco and three from the rest of the lineup. The Bucs began Sunday with the Majors' highest-scoring offense since the All-Star break, but they'll have to navigate the next week without Dickerson or Bell.

Will the Pirates' lineup, bench, rotation or bullpen look different by that point? Stay tuned.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

DUELING PITCHERS WHO RAKE: Musgrove carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, but the Mets broke it up with a pair of infield singles. Austin Jackson led off the inning with a single to shortstop Sean Rodriguez, but he was erased by Kevin Plawecki's double-play grounder. Rodriguez then made another sharp play at short, but Luis Guillorme still reached safely.

Up came Wheeler, batting with two outs in a scoreless tie. The lefty-hitting starter pulled Musgrove's 1-1 fastball to right field for a double, driving in New York's only run of the day.

SOUND SMART

The last time the Mets beat the Pirates, 1-0, with the only run scoring on an RBI by the pitcher was on Sept. 12, 1969. It actually happened twice that day, as the Mets swept a doubleheader in which the only runs were driven in by starters Jerry Koosman and Don Cardwell.

TRAINER’S ROOM

METS: CF Jackson, who was 2 for 3 with one walk, started for the first time since New York acquired him Friday. He struck out in his first appearance for the Mets, a pinch-hit at-bat in a 5-4 loss Friday. In 59 games with the San Francisco Giants this season, Jackson hit .242 with 13 RBIs.

PIRATES: Freese returned to the lineup after having one pinch-hit at-bat Saturday. He played first base with 1B Josh Bell on the 10-day disabled list with a left oblique strain sustained Friday.

UP NEXT

METS: LHP Steven Matz (5-8, 3.79) will attempt win two straight for the first time this season when he faces the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. Matz picked up the win while allowing four runs on three hits in his last start after losing his previous three.

PIRATES: RHP Jameson Taillon (7-8, 3.73) will look to continue his hot stretch when he takes the mound against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. Despite losing his last start, Taillon has allowed a combined four runs in 18 1/3 innings over his past three appearances.