San Francisco Giant first baseman Dominic Smith (7) can’t look as the New York Mets Keith Alsonso runs the bases for a two run home run and his 250th career home run in the first inning at Citi Field in New York at Sat Aug 2, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (55-56) were very much in this game going into the bottom of the seventh inning. The New York Mets (63-48) just wore the Giants out in the bottom of the seventh inning scoring four runs and tacking on another in the eighth inning for a 12-6 win to tie up the series one apiece.

The win puts New York back on top in the National League East. The Mets finished the game with 13 hits and San Francisco had nine. The Giants did have a two-run home run in the ninth inning which should give them a little confidence going into game three Sunday. The Giants fell below .500 with this loss for a second time this season.

Friday, the Giants finally snapped their six game losing streak beating the Mets in ten innings 4-3. Friday night the Giants were looking their second win over the National League East’s second place team but couldn’t accomplish that mission.

The Mets are currently a half game behind the first place Phillies and took back first place with a win today. Giants starter Kai Wei Teng pitched 3.1 innings, allowing four hits and five earned runs, three walks and four strikeouts. Mets starter Senga countered with four innings, five hits, four earned runs, three walks, and four strikeouts.

The Mets got to San Francisco starting pitcher Kai-Wei Teng early scoring three runs and taking a 3-0 lead. The Mets Pete Alonso hit a three run home run with Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor on board for the early lead. it was a rough start for the Giants.

San Francisco got to work in the second inning getting back one run when Grant McCray grounded into a double play but brought base runner Casey Schmitt home. Trailing by two runs, San Francisco scored a couple more runs in the third inning to tie up the game 3-3. Dominic Smith hit a two run home run with Matt Chapman on base and this game was all even.

The Giants took the lead in the fourth inning 4-3. Grant McCray singled Jung Hoo Lee home for San Francisco’s first lead of the game. The Giant’s lead was short-lived when the Mets took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning 5-4 scoring two runs. Brandon Nimmo singled Cedric Mullins home and Francisco Lindor reached first base on a bunt single and Brett Baty scored.

There was a change on the mound in the fourth inning for the Giants. After 3 1/3 innings starting pitcher Kai-Wei Teng was relieved by Matt Gage. Teng had allowed four hits, five earned runs, three walks and four strikeouts. Gage closed out the fourth inning and pitched into the fifth.

The Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga also exited the game early going for four innings. He allowed five hits, four earned runs, also had three walks and 4 four strikeouts. He was relieved by Reed Garrett who closed out the fifth inning. Garrett was relieved after 1 1/3 innings and Gregory Soto took the mound in the sixth inning.

Spencer Bivens came in to relieve in the bottom of the sixth inning for the Giants. It didn’t go so well for Bivens allowing two more New York runs extending the Mets lead to 7-4. Brandon Nimmo singled Francisco Alvarez home and Francisco Lindor came up right behind Nimmo and also singled driving Brett Baty home.

It was a shaky seventh inning for Giants relief pitcher Tristian Beck loading the bases with two outs. Brandon Nimmo hit yet again another single in the game driving in Ronny Mauricio leaving the bases still loaded.

The Mets would tack on another two runs taking a 10-4 lead breaking this game open. Francisco Lindor who was having a great game had another hit, a double driving in Cedric Mullins and Brett Baty.

The Mets were still not finished still with two outs but San Francisco just could not get out of the inning. New York finished off the inning scoring one more run taking an 11-4 lead. Beck had an awful time on the mound throwing a wild pitch allowing Nimmo to score the final run of the inning.

The Giants were able to fight for this game for a few innings but the Mets just plain wore them out in the latter innings. The Mets took the 11-4 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning. Beck remained in the game for the eighth inning giving up another run but closed out the inning with New York leading 12-4.

The Mets were three outs away from a tied up series. With two outs the Giants had one last gasp with a two run home run from Willie Adames, his first hit of the series.

The rubber game of this series will be played Sunday morning with first pitch scheduled for 10:40 AM. Carson Whisenhunt will take the mound for the Giants with a 7.20 ERA. The Mets will send Frankie Montas with a 3-1 win/loss record and a 5.46 ERA.