Mets finally win their second straight game in July. Scott Hairston launches two, and Jason Bay touches the plate three times in a late night offensive battle against the Giants. Mets end up on top, 8-7 in ten innings.

Despite what the scoreboard says, Jeremy Hefner did well tonight. He just got pulled a couple batters too late. The game was tied at two entering the sixth inning, and Hefner strikes out the first batter to start it off right. He gives up back-to-back base hits to have runners on the corners. A run comes on a force out, and then two hits later, the second run follows. Other than that, he pitched pretty well. He’s had to pitch out of jams a couple times as he gave up two hits, but only allowed two scattered runs before the sixth. Either way, Hefner will still be starting until Santana returns. Hefner’s final distraught line ends up being: 5.2 innings pitched, four runs on ten hits, three walks and struck out five on 92 pitches. He gets a no decision.

The bullpen never rests with the Mets. Ramon Ramirez finished out the sixth inning after a walk. Tim Byrdak gives up a hit and strikes out two in his inning of work. Jon Rauch pitches a flawless one-two-three eighth inning on just seven pitches.

Mets first two runs in the fourth off a two-run double from Ronny Cedeno that knocked in Hairston and Bay. They would have to wait until the eighth inning to score again as Jordany Valdespin gets a lead-off, pinch-hit single, and then gets followed by a two-run homer from Scott Hairston to tie up the game, his thirteenth of the year. Yeah, I think we’ll keep him.

To continue their offensive inning, Ike gets hit by a pitch, then replaced Bay at first on a force play. Justin Turner comes up big with a two out, pinch-hit RBI double to give the Mets the lead again. Rob Johnson continues to play well since being called up again as he hits an RBI single to score Turner.

Things got uneasy in the ninth as Bobby Parnell came in to try to close it out…Immediately surrenders a hit and then an RBI double to Posey…Then after finally getting an out, with the tying run on third, Terry Collins pulled Parnell from the mound. Nightly bullpen antics.

Josh Edgin comes in and gives up an RBI double into right field after the ball deflects off Ike’s glove. We’re no longer in the days off Ike diving over railings to make a catch anymore. What a whiff. Edgin then strikes out Brandon Belt, walks a batter, gives up a single to former Met, Joaquin Arias. Finally the monster inning ends on a strikeout to Marco Scutaro.

Scott Hairston continues to show why the Mets highly value him as he hits his second homerun of the game in the tenth inning, now with fourteen dingers. Rob Johnson then knocked in Jason Bay on a fielder’s choice to get an insurance run.

Manny Acosta got the call to finish out the game. He walks the first batter, gets an out, walks the next batter, gets the second out, then gives up an RBI single, and then finally gets the last out with Valdespin making a nice catch in center field on the warning tracks. Never an easy night.

David Wright with one hit and two strikeouts. He’s trying to do too much. Ike Davis with the golden sombrero of four strikeouts. Jason Bay with one hit, three runs, two walks, a stolen base, and one strikeout.

Game Ball

Scott Hairston with two big homeruns, three RBIs and a stolen base on the night. Don’t leave us.

Notes

This is the first game the Mets are playing in San Francisco, and the former Giant, Andres Torres, got a standing ovation.

In the fifth inning, Andres Torres slid into first base to beat the play and avoid a tag. He got trampled by Bumgarner, and it looked to be Torres stubbed his right thumb on the ground in the collision. He seemed okay, and stayed in the game.

Mike Baxter is back! He had a hit in his one at bat.

There was speculation that the Mets could go after Geovany Soto from the Cubs. He was traded to the Rangers. Still no moves for the Mets.

Up Next

Matt Harvey gets his second career start and it’s up against former, two time Cy Young winner, Tim Lincecum (4-11, 5.88 ERA) and the Giants. First pitch is set for a late 10:15 PM. Let’s Go Mets!