NEW YORK _ Trevor Williams picked a good time to pitch his best start of the season. Jameson Taillon will return to the rotation sooner than later and push someone out of it. On Sunday at Citi Field, Williams built upon his campaign to remain a starter.
Williams allowed one run in seven innings, and the Pirates beat the New York Mets, 11-1. In his past two starts he allowed two runs in 13 innings.
"He's pushing, he's confident in what he can do and he's showing that he belongs here," David Freese said.
Williams replaced Taillon on May 8, the same day Taillon had surgery to address testicular cancer. That night in Los Angeles, he allowed eight runs, six earned, in three innings. In five starts since, he has a 2.83 ERA and five walks issued in 28 2/3 innings.
"It's out of my hands," Williams said. "I'm just glad that I still have an opportunity to pitch at the big league level. Whenever the ball's in my hand in whatever situation, I'm going to do my best and give the team the best of my ability that day to help the team win."
Williams put the leadoff man on in four of his seven innings but allowed only one run, on Travis d'Arnaud's second-inning double play. He retired 10 of the final 12 batters he faced. Regarding how Williams' recent performance would affect his chances of remaining in the rotation, manager Clint Hurdle said, "He's done what he's been asked to do. Everything gets evaluated every time somebody touches the ball and goes out there. We'll see how it plays out."
"I like pitching with a sense of urgency," Williams said. "That's kind of how I tick, how I go about my business with my workouts and my bullpen sessions. That's just kind of how I'm hard-wired. It's their decision, like it was in spring training. It's their decision and I trust them to give the club the best shot to win."
Freese, who had been in a funk since coming off the disabled list, went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and a sacrifice fly. Andrew McCutchen continued to hit from the No. 6 spot, going 3 for 5 with a three-run homer. In nine games batting sixth, McCutchen is 12 for 31 (.387) with three homers. And Francisco Cervelli, making his return after two days out of the lineup due to illness, went 3 for 4 with a walk.
"I've done probably as close to a damn thing since I've been back," Freese said. "It's tough. You're struggling a little bit, but you just keep fighting. I'm pretty positive my post-DL numbers by the end of the season will be right where they need to be."
The Pirates left the field after the top of the seventh with a 5-1 lead, but got another chance to extend it. During the playing of "God Bless America," the Pirates challenged that Neil Walker's foot had come off the bag when he turned an inning-ending double play.
The play wasn't close _ Josh Harrison reached first by getting hit in the back of his right leg and was running slowly _ but Walker's left foot left early. The umpires in the replay command center agreed, and the Mets came back out on the field. Freese, due up, waited, watching Mets manager Terry Collins talk with the umpires.
"I was just sitting there going, alright, Terry's about to get tossed," Freese joked.
Freese singled and drove in pinch-runner Max Moroff.
The Pirates (26-31) took two of three from the Mets and scored 12 and 11 runs in the victories. Despite being five games under .500, they are four back of first place in the NL Central.
"I think every team's just waiting for somebody to win 10 in a row," Freese said. "You look at the standings and we're all just kind of sitting around waiting. There's an opportunity for every team in the division to get on a roll and separate."
