After Thursday’s back and forth 13-12 loss, the Mets sent Thomas Szapucki to the mound for his first Major League start looking to take the rubber match from Jakob Junis and the Giants. Szapucki’s first start could not have gone worse, as the Giants jumped on him for nine runs on seven hits and four home runs in just 1 1/3 innings and won the game 9-3.

Szapucki came out firing with added velocity in the first inning. After sitting in the low 90’s and topping out at 95 mph in the minors, he threw multiple 96 and 97 mph fastballs. Unfortunately for Szapucki and the Mets, the added velocity couldn’t make up for a lack of command.

After Darin Ruf struck out to start the game for the Giants, their bats took off. Wilmer Flores doubled and Mike Yastrzemski walked before Evan Longoria hit a first pitch fastball over the centerfield fence to give the Giants a 3-0 lead. Two batters later, Joc Pederson made it 5-0 with his fourth home run in two days. Szapucki finally escaped the inning when Joey Bart got himself picked off attempting to steal second base.

The second inning did not go much better for Szapucki, Donovan Walton hit a double to lead off the inning, and after Ruf struck out for a second time, Wilmer hit another double to make it a 6-0 game. Yastrzemski and Longoria followed with back-to-back home runs to extend the lead to 9-0 and put an end to Szapucki’s first start. Trevor Williams came into the game and got the final two outs around a walk to Pederson to end the inning.

The Mets got their first run in the top of the third inning. Dominic Smith drew a lead off walk, and Luis Guillorme replaced him on the bases when he beat out a double-play ball. After Patrick Mazeika singled to put runners on the corners, Brandon Nimmo drove the run in on a groundout.

In the bottom of the third, Jeff McNeil made a terrific sliding catch in left field to rob Walton of an extra-base hit. He slid right at the foul line and slammed into the wall in foul territory. His left leg hit the wall hard, and his face followed with McNeil running at full speed. He was pinch-hit for in the next inning, but the Mets announced he was removed with just a left knee contusion.

After coming in to clean up the mess, Williams did a terrific job to hold the Giants offense in check. Williams went 3 2/3 innings and allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out five Giants.

The Mets got their second run of the day in the sixth inning. With two outs in the inning, Francisco Lindor hit a changeup down and away out to left field for his eighth home run of the season.

After Williams’ strong outing, Colin Holderman came in and pitched a perfect inning in the sixth with two strikeouts. It was his fifth consecutive scoreless outing to start the season, and he has struck out seven batters of six scoreless innings this season. Chasen Shreve came into the game in the seventh inning and threw a perfect inning of his own.

The Mets added their third run in the eighth. Nimmo led off the inning with a triple to right field, and Starling Marte drove him in on a groundout to Walton at shortstop.

Seth Lugo pitched the eighth inning, and like the two pitchers prior, he was perfect. After the disastrous start for Szapucki, the bullpen was lights out and allowed just one hit over 6 2/3 innings while striking out eight Giant hitters.

In the ninth, the Mets got a double from Eduardo Escobar and a walk from Guillorme, but that was all they got as they fell 9-3 and dropped just their second series of 2022. The loss ended their 14-game win streak following a loss.

Player of the Game: Francisco Lindor

The Mets did not hit much on Wednesday, but that did not stop Lindor from having another big game against Junis. Lindor entered the day with with a .500 batting average (18-36) in his career against Junis with five home runs, his most against a single pitcher. He hit a double in the fourth inning off Junis and added another home run against him in the sixth to bring his batting average against Junis up to .513. He finished the day going 2-4, and has hit .345 with a 1.065 OPS over his last seven games.

On Deck

After an off day on Thursday, the Mets will begin a three game series with the Phillies at Citi Field on Friday at 7:10 p.m. ET.

Carlos Carrasco (4-1, 3.50 ERA) will be on the mound for the Mets coming off a strong start in Colorado. He allowed just one run over 5 1/3 innings. The Phillies have not officially announced a starter for Friday yet, but will likely have Zach Eflin (1-3, 3.65 ERA) pitching in the series opener. The game will be televised on SNY, and the radio call will be on WCBS 880.