The New York Mets snapped a three-game losing streak and finished their road trip with a 3-3 record after defeating the San Francisco Giants 8-2 on Wednesday morning. Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell was scratched from his start and placed on the injured list with a left adductor strain, forcing the Giants to empty their bullpen. The Mets took advantage of the opportunity by controlling the strike zone and being aggressive against San Francisco’s young relievers.
Francisco Lindor went 4-for-5 with a pair of two-run homers to drive in four runs and score two, while Tyrone Taylor went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. Sean Manaea overcame erratic command to shut out his former team for 4 2/3 innings, allowing four hits, walking four, and striking out six.
The Giants (12-14) took note of Manaea’s questionable strike calls and forced him to try to locate, laying off borderline pitches in the third and fourth innings. Manaea loaded the bases in the second with two walks and a single before retiring the next three with weak fly-ball outs to get out of the jam. In the third, he walked leadoff hitter Austin Slater and the outfielder stole second. But Manaea picked him off, catching him with a large lead for the first out. He walked Wilmer Flores before getting two quick outs to end the inning.
The Mets went to right-hander Adonis Garcia with two out and runners on first and second in the fifth. Manaea appeared to hit Michael Conforto with a pitch, but after a lengthy review, the former Mets outfielder was called back to the plate. He came back and swung through a sweeper for the second out. Manaea was already at 101 pitches and the Mets didn’t want to jeopardize their lead with Jorge Soler behind Conforto. Garrett (4-0) retired Soler to end the inning.
The Mets continued to add to their lead, with Lindor hitting his second home run of the game off Mitch White in the ninth inning. The Giants finally got on the board in the seventh when Tyler Fitzgerald hit a solo home run off Garrett. However, the Mets bullpen shut down the Giants the rest of the way, with Miguel Castro, Seth Lugo, and Edwin Diaz combining to allow just one hit over the final 2 1/3 innings.
