Mets Beat Pirates 11-7 in 2026 Opening Day Win

On March 26, 2026, the New York Mets launched their season with an 11-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field, overcoming a shaky start from Pirates ace Paul Skenes in a game marked by defensive miscues and an unusual pregame moment. The win came before a packed crowd of 41,000 fans, setting a positive tone despite early jitters.

The festivities began with a performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Broadway veteran Christopher Jackson, known for his Tony-nominated role as George Washington in Hamilton. Midway through the anthem, Jackson briefly faltered, pausing after the line "O'er the ramparts we watched" before repeating "What so proudly we hailed" from an earlier verse. He recovered swiftly, continuing without further interruption to complete the song. The slip, captured on video and shared widely online, drew immediate attention but elicited mostly supportive reactions from fans.

Jackson addressed the moment later that evening, emphasizing his experience with high-stakes performances. "I've had the honor of singing the National Anthem countless times in stadiums around the country," he said. "Today it was for about five seconds and one line got away from me....