Mets Beat Giants 8-4, Win First Series In A Month

The New York Mets defeated the San Francisco Giants, 8-4, on Sunday and have won their first series in a month. The last time the Mets took a series was against the Philadelphia Phillies spanning May 30 through June 1. This is also the first time since mid-June that the Mets have won back-to-back games.

While only going four innings, David Peterson pitched well while limiting the Giants to three hits and one run. Peterson struck out three batters while walking three. His counterpart, Ross Stripling, pitched only two innings in what had been a bullpen game for San Francisco, who used five different pitchers in the game.

After taking a 1-0 lead thanks to a fielder’s choice in the top of the third inning, the Giants’ defense and pitching faltered. Pete Alonso drew a bases loaded walk to even the score, which brought Jeff McNeil to the plate. McNeil blooped a single over the second baseman’s head to drive in a pair to put the Mets in front, 3-1.

The Mets would add on some more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Mark Canha, playing first base as Alonso was the team’s designated hitter, hit a solo home run to put the Mets in front, 4-1. Then a red-hot Tommy Pham came to the plate a doubled to bring home Brandon Nimmo for the fifth Mets’ run.

The bullpen put in the work, as they needed to carry the Mets’ 5-1 lead through five more innings to give the Mets back-to-back wins. Grant Hartwig, the newbie to the bullpen, went two innings while striking out three batters. Outside of Gartwig, the Mets’ bullpen was imperfect, but got the job done.

Jeff Brigham gave up three runs thanks to a pinch-hit two-run home run and a J.D. Davis RBI-double in the top of the seventh inning. With the Giants trailing 5-4, the Mets also used Dominic Leone and Brooks Raley to finish off the inning.

Starling Marte gave the Mets a little room to breathe with an RBI-single that put the Mets up, 6-4. They needed that room to breathe as Adam Ottavino loaded the bases with two hit by pitches and a walk. All the other Giants’ batters in the top of the eighth inning struck out.

Alonso put the nail in the Giants coffin as he blasted a two-run homer that was launched 433 feet into the left field stands as he gets ready for the Home Run Derby next week. David Robertson would close out the game perfectly to win it for the Mets.

Player of the Game: Tommy Pham

Tommy Pham is the Mets most consistent bat in their lineup right now and has been for a few weeks. He has been everything, and more, the Mets could have asked for when they signed him in the offseason.

Pham went 3-for-4 with two doubles and one run batted in. Pham also scored two runs for the Mets and drew a walk in the game.

Statistic of the Game: Series Win!

Between the Mets last series win and Sunday, the Mets have lost seven of their last eight series throughout the month of June. Their lone series split was with the New York Yankees, which was a two-game series.

With the win over the Giants, the Mets also win back-to-back games for the first time since their walk-off win against the Yankees and their series opening win against the St. Louis Cardinals.

On Deck:

The Mets (38-46) travel out to the West Coast one last time before the All-Star Game as they head to Arizona to take on the Diamondbacks. Kodai Senga will take the mound for the Mets against Zach Davies.