Mets 4, Pirates 2: Juan Lagares had two hits and two RBIs as host New York evened its series with Pittsburgh at one game apiece.

Daniel Murphy also had two hits with a run-scoring double, Ruben Tejada had two hits and scored twice and Bobby Abreu added an RBI single for the Mets in their first contest with new hitting coach Lamar Johnson. Newly promoted Vic Black (1-0) struck out two in 1 1/3 scoreless innings in his season debut before Jenrry Mejía got the final six outs for his fourth save to help New York improve to 4-9 in its last 13.

Starling Marte delivered a two-run single for the Pirates, who had a four-game winning streak at Citi Field come to an end. Jeanmar Gomez (0-1) gave up two runs on two hits, a walk and two wild pitches in one-third of an inning to take the loss - only Pittsburgh's second in seven games.

Mets starter Jon Niese carried a two-hit shutout into the sixth inning but walked the bases loaded before giving up a two-out single to Marte to tie it at 2-2. New York responded in its next at-bat against Gomez when Tejada walked, moved to third on a pair of wild pitches and came home on a single by Lagares, who scored when Murphy followed with a double down the right-field line to make it 4-2.

Abreu got the Mets on the board in the third with a two-out RBI single off Edinson Volquez before Tejada doubled in the fourth and scored on Lagares' two-out double. Pittsburgh left the bases loaded after tying it in the sixth and had runners on second and third in the seventh, but Black escaped both jams with an inning-ending strikeout.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Mets CF Lagares robbed Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen of extra bases with a leaping catch at the wall in the first inning, but McCutchen returned the favor in the third with a diving grab in right-center. ... Volquez allowed two runs on four hits with five walks and two wild pitches over five innings. ... The Mets received good news when an MRI exam on RHP Noah Syndergaard, their top pitching prospect at Triple-A Las Vegas, showed no structural damage on his right elbow. Syndergaard went on the disabled list Monday with a mild flexor-pronator strain.