NEW YORK (Interstat) — In a tense, back-and-forth affair that required extra innings, the Pittsburgh Pirates avoided a season-opening sweep by edging the New York Mets 4-3 in 10 innings on Sunday at Citi Field.

A crowd of 36,940 watched as the Pirates, who had dropped the first two games of the series, rallied in the top of the 10th and then survived a dramatic challenge at the plate in the bottom half to secure their first victory of the young 2026 season.

The decisive frame began with the automatic runner, Bryan Reynolds, stationed at second base. Ryan O’Hearn promptly delivered an RBI single to center field off Mets reliever Richard Lovelady, scoring Reynolds to break the 2-2 deadlock. After a double play, Lovelady walked Nick Yorke and Nick Gonzales to load the bases. Henry Davis then lined a sharp single to center, driving in Billy Cook, who was pinch-running for Yorke, for a critical insurance run.

That run proved monumental in the bottom of the 10th. Facing Pirates closer José Urquidy, Francisco Lindor walked. Juan Soto then ripped a double to deep center field, scoring the automatic runner, Francisco Alvarez. Lindor, attempting to score from first, was thrown out at home on a perfect relay from center fielder Oneil Cruz to shortstop Jared Triolo to catcher Henry Davis. The Mets challenged the tag play, but the call was upheld, erasing the potential tying run.

Soto advanced to third on a groundout, but Urquidy induced a flyout from Jorge Polanco to right field to end the game, earning his first save.

The most important sequence of the game was undoubtedly the 10th-inning play at the plate. With no outs and the potential winning run coming to bat, the Pirates’ execution on the relay and the upheld challenge preserved their newly regained lead and ultimately sealed the victory.

The game was a duel of strong starting performances for much of the afternoon. Pirates right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski, the top star for Pittsburgh, struck out eight over 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. His counterpart, Mets rookie Nolan McLean, was equally impressive, fanning eight Pirates across five innings while surrendering two runs on four hits, including a solo home run to Brandon Lowe in the third inning.

Lowe’s homer had given Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead after O’Hearn’s first-inning single had plated Cruz. The Mets tied it in the fifth on an RBI single from Soto that scored Lindor, who had tripled.

Both bullpens were stellar in regulation. For Pittsburgh, Yohan Ramírez, Isaac Mattson and Dennis Santana combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit. Santana, who pitched a perfect ninth, earned the win. The Mets received shutout work from Huascar Brazobán, Sean Manaea and Luke Weaver from the sixth through the ninth innings.

The Pirates finished with seven hits to the Mets’ nine, but New York went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.

Dennis Santana moved to 1-0 with the win for Pittsburgh, now 1-2. Richard Lovelady took the loss for the Mets, falling to 1-1 as New York’s record evened at 2-1. The game time was 3 hours, 8 minutes.

According to Interstat, the Mets had been projected as favorites with a 60.9% probability to win and a -1.5 spread. The projected final score was 3-2 in favor of New York. The combined seven total runs went under the over/under line of 8.

The Pirates now travel to Cincinnati for a three-game series starting Monday. The Mets head to St. Louis to begin a three-game set, also on Monday.