San Francisco Giants Dominic Smith slugs an RBI single in the top of the tenth to give the Giants the eventual winning run against the New York Mets at Citi Field in New York on Fri Aug 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK. — The San Francisco Giants held off a late rally by the New York Mets and beat the home team 4-3 in extra innings in the series opener at Citi Field on Friday night.

Pinch-hitter Dominic Smith hit an RBI single in the 10th inning and the Giants beat his former team and snapped their season-high-tying six-game losing streak.

The Giants were leading 3-1 when the Mets came out swinging in the eighth inning. Juan Soto singled on a ground ball to left field, allowing Brandon Nimmo to score, and New York trailed by only 1. Then Pete Alonso went out on a sacrifice fly to center field and Francisco Lindor scored, tying the game at 3-3 with two outs.

Both teams were scoreless in the ninth, and the game went into an extra inning, in which Smith bagged the game.

“Well look, we had to work hard to get it,” said Giants manager Bob Melvin.

“It felt a little unlucky there for a while but, powered through.”

The Giants got off to a good start, with Casey Schmitt doubling on a sharp line drive to left field and Matt Chapman scoring in the second inning, putting the Giants up 1-0. Jung Hoo Lee grounded out and Wilmer Flores scored, boosting them up 2-0.

In the seventh inning, Patrick Bailey doubled on a line drive to right field and Lee scored, expanding San Francisco’s lead to 3-0. But at the bottom of the inning, Alonso hit a home run on a fly ball to center field to cut the Giants’ lead to 3-1.

In the second inning, Casey Schmitt doubled on a sharp line drive to left field and Matt Chapman scored, putting the Giants up 1-0. Jung Hoo Lee grounded out and Wilmer Flores scored, boosting them up 2-0.

In the seventh inning, Patrick Bailey doubled on a line drive to right field and Lee scored, expanding San Francisco’s lead to 3-0. At the bottom of the seventh, Alonso hit a home run on a fly ball to center field to cut the Giants’ lead to 3-1.

After the Mets tied the game in the eighth, Smith in the 10th hit a single on a ground ball to center field, allowing Willy Adames to score and take a 4-3 lead.

Adames said “we had to find a way to win this game, no matter how”.

Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray gave up just one run in seven innings.

“I didn’t try to do too much, didn’t try to put any unneeded pressure on myself,” said Ray.

“I knew that if I stuck to my game plan, that we had a chance.”

With two months left in the season, the Giants are 55-55 as they continue on their six-game road trip with two more games in New York and then a visit to the Pittsburgh Pirates from Monday to Wednesday.

First pitch for game two against the Mets (62-48) on Saturday is at 1:10 p.m. PT. Starting pitcher for the Giants LHP Carson Wisenhunt (0-0 ERS 7.20) for the Mets RHP Kodai Senga (7-3 ERA 2.00).