San Francisco Giants Thario Estrada takes a swing at a New York Mets pitch in the top of the seventh inning at Citi Park in New York on Sun Jul 2, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK. — The San Francisco Giants fell 8-4 to the struggling New York Mets and allowed them to win their first series in a month at Citi Field on Sunday night.

San Francisco won game 1, but fell in the last two of the three-game series as they continue what has arguably been their toughest travel schedule this season.

The Giants got the first run, in the third inning when Thairo Estrada grounded into a forced out and Bryce Johnson scored.

New York had the bases loaded and Pete Alonso walked and Francisco Alvarez scored, tying the game at 1-1. Then Jeff McNeil singled on a ground ball to second base and Brandon Nimmo and Tommy Pham scored due to a fielding error by shortstop Brandon Crawford, boosting the Mets up 3-1.

In the fourth inning, Mark Canha hit a home run to left center field and put the Mets up 4-1. Pham hit a fly ball to second base and Minno scored, making it 5-1 Mets.

After game 2, Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that the team recently has not been able to score runs early on, while putting together “pretty good at-bats later in the game”. That continued to be the case on Sunday.

In the seventh inning, Blake Sabol hit a homer to center field and Joc Pederson scored, cutting the Mets’ lead to 5-3. It was Sabol’s third at-bat against right-handed pitcher Jeff Brigham this year, and he got his revenge after being struck out twice.

“Was able to hold up on the sweeper down and in and I think he was thinking the same thing like, I think I can get him again up and away and was able to get the barrell there,” said Sabol. “So definitely a confidence boost and at that point it was a big one for the team, kind of got things going you know, we’re right there, one more swing away from taking the lead.”

Then J.D. Davis hit a line drive to right field and Estrada scored, making it 5-4. But the Mets fought back. Starling Marte hit a fly ball to left field and Alonso scored, lifting New York up 6-4.

Alonso hit a homer in the eighth inning and Pham scored, expanding the Mets’ lead to 8-4.

Giants right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling allowed no runs in two innings pitched in his first start since May 17. Alex Wood followed him and allowed five runs, four of them earned, in 1 2/3 innings pitched.

“I just had a hard time getting the grip,” said Stripling, explaining that his hand felt “sticky with the humidity”. He said not being able to strike his speed “was the main culprit here”.

The Giants arrived in New York early morning Friday after a three-game series in Toronto and fly back home Sunday night and go straight into a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners.

Asked if the travel schedule may be a factor in the team’s performance, Kapler said, “I think it’s a good opportunity for us to show some toughness here, right?”

“Certainly the travel has not been easy and thinking this leg of travel is going to be equally challenging and just like, a really good opportunity for us to step up and be tough through it and then be together through it,” Kapler said.

“We gotta go get rest on the plane as much as we possibly can and these guys got to rest up and get back to the ballpark.”

The Giants (46-38) return home to host the Seattle Mariners (40-42) for a three-game series starting on Monday. First pitch is at 6:45 p.m. PT.