Pirates Sweep Mets 3-Game Series with 12-1 Win

Oneil Cruz played a pivotal role in the Pittsburgh Pirates' 12-1 victory over the New York Mets, hitting two two-run home runs that helped complete a three-game sweep for the Pirates. Cruz ended a 14-game homerless drought and raised his team-leading home run total to 15, delivering key hits in both the first and seventh innings. The Pirates scored all their runs in the first inning and dominated the Mets, who have lost 13 of their last 16 games. Prior to this breakout performance, Cruz had struggled with consistency, leading to him being dropped in the batting order and shuffled in and out of the lineup; however, his recent multi-homer game marked a resurgence. Despite some ongoing issues with strikeouts and effort, Cruz remains a valuable player for the Pirates and fantasy baseball managers. The Pirates' offense has notably improved, scoring 48 runs in their last seven games, a sharp turnaround from earlier in the season when they had the lowest run total in the National League.