New York Mets’ Mark Vientos hits a two-run double during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, July 26, 2025 in San Francisco. (Photo Credits to AP photographer Godofredo A. Vasquez)

Saturday, July 26, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco Giants: 1

New York Mets: 2

Win: New York Mets Pitcher David Peterson (7-4)

Loss: San Francisco Giants Pitcher Robbie Ray (9-5)

Attendance: 39,029

By: Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – The Giants were looking to even the series against the New York Mets with a win on Saturday evening, but have fallen short. The Giants have now lost eight of their last ten games dating back to July 12th, and have been held to three runs or fewer in six of those games. As the Mets get their 6th consecutive win.

The loss marked another frustrating night for the Giants’ offense, which outhit New York but couldn’t convert when it mattered most — leaving key runners stranded and hitting into multiple double plays. Despite Robbie Ray’s strong outing and Jung Hoo Lee’s standout performance, the Giants were unable to overcome the Mets’ two-run sixth inning.

Baserunners, defensive moments, and missed opportunities drove the early innings on both sides.

The Mets attacked immediately in the first inning. The Giants found themselves in difficulty after Francisco Lindor walked and third baseman Matt Chapman made a throwing error. However, Robbie Ray escaped by getting Starling Marte to line out, burning 25 pitches while causing no damage.

San Francisco responded with the same scenario in the bottom half. Rafael Devers singled, Willy Adames walked, and Chapman came in with two on, only to line into a rally-killing double play started by Mark Vientos at third.

In the second inning, Francisco Álvarez hit a two-out triple, but Ray struck out Tyrone Taylor to prevent more damage. The Giants responded with two singles in the bottom half, but the inning ended on another double play, this time by Luis Matos.

Both starters worked scoreless third innings, with Ray retiring the side in order and David Peterson matching him to keep the game tied at 0-0 after three.

A no-scoring game was finally broken in the fourth. Despite three consecutive hits, the Mets were unable to score as Vientos struck out and Álvarez grounded into an inning-ending double play started by Chapman.

The Giants made the break count in the second half. Adames and Chapman hit, Schmitt walked, and Jung Hoo Lee scored the game’s first run with a fielder’s choice, giving San Francisco a 1-0 lead.

Ray looked sharp in the fifth, striking out Taylor and pitching a clean one, two, three, inning. Despite putting two more runners on base, the Giants were unable to score, as Chapman struck out again with two on to close the period.

In the sixth, New York finally cashed in. Juan Soto walked, stole second, and advanced on a ground ball. After another walk and a botched potential double play at first, Vientos hit the Giants with a two-run double to left, giving the Mets a 2-1 advantage. Ray’s night ended after 102 pitches, and pitcher Ryan Walker saved further damage by striking out Nimmo with the bases loaded.

Wilmer Flores led off with a single in the bottom half for the Giants, but Brandon Nimmo caught him reaching for second on a perfect throw. Jung Hoo Lee got another single later in the inning, but Matos flied out to center, ending the inning.

The Giants had a chance to fight back as Randy Rodríguez, Tyler Rogers, Joey Lucchesi, and Ryan Walker held the Mets scoreless in the final three innings. Rogers pitched around a leadoff double in the 8th, and Rodríguez struck out two in the 9th, including Juan Soto with a runner on, to hold the score to one.

The Giants had their best chance to tie it in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Jung Hoo Lee hit his 22nd double of the season into the gap in right. Pinch hitter Mike Yastrzemski struck out, leaving Patrick Bailey as the final hope. Bailey made contact but lined out to Pete Alonso at first, sealing the Giants’ loss.

David Peterson (7-4) got the win for New York after pitching six innings of one earned run. Ray (9-5) suffered a tough loss, giving up two runs in 5.1 innings with three strikeouts. Edwin Díaz secured his 23rd save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

The Giants are currently 2-6 since the All-Star break, trying to maintain consistency as the second half of the season has begun. Saturday’s game was also the first one in Major League Baseball without a home run, which is an unusual occurrence in today’s power-driven game.

San Francisco is looking to prevent a sweep in Sunday’s finale at 4:10 p.m. at Oracle Park. The Giants will play a bullpen game, with Matt Gage(0-0 ERA 0.00) starting and Carson Seymour likely covering multiple innings. The Mets will reply with right-hander Kodai Senga (7-3, 1.79 ERA), one of the National League’s most effective pitchers this season.

With playoff positioning tightening and frustration mounting, the Giants will need to find answers quickly to flip their fortunes around. Especially since the Giants went 0-8 with runners in scoring position tonight, and with the Giants bullpen throwing 35.1 innings since the All-Star break.