NEW YORK (AP) Amed Rosario and Dominic Smith hit back-to-back home runs to begin the first inning, then Todd Frazier hit a tiebreaking drive in the eighth that sent the New York Mets over the San Francisco Giants 7-3 Thursday.
Pinch-hitter Jeff McNeil singled home the tying run in the seventh for the Mets, stayed in the game and added an RBI single that capped a four-run eighth.
New York starter Zack Wheeler overcame a long homer by Pablo Sandoval and a shot by Brandon Belt to keep it close into the late innings.
It was 3-all when Pete Alonso opened the Mets eighth with a single off Mark Melancon (2-1). After Michael Conforto grounded into a force play and stole second, Frazier connected.
Frazier took a giant hop as he reached first base after his fifth homer of the season. Adeiny Hechavarria followed with a single and ran through third base coach Gary DiSarcina’s stop sign to easily score on Juan Lagares’ double.
Seth Lugo (3-0) pitched one inning for the win. The Mets held the Giants to three hits.
Rosario and Smith got the Mets off to a fast start against rookie Shaun Anderson. This was the third time in franchise history the Mets had opened the first inning with consecutive home runs, most recently by Jose Reyes and Asdrubal Cabrera in 2016.
It had been a much longer time since the Giants had given up back-to-back homers to lead off the first – it was Aug. 3, 1994, at Candlestick Park when Bud Black served them up to Cincinnati’s Jacob Brumfield and Bret Boone.
Both Rosario and Smith got taken out for pinch-hitters in the seventh when the Mets scored a run to make it 3-all.
A walk and single set up a sacrifice bunt by pinch-hitter Carlos Gomez, and McNeil stuck his bat off for a tying, bloop single off Reyes Moronta.
The Mets have homered in a team-record 13 straight games at Citi Field.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: 2B Robinson Cano didn’t play a day after tweaking his left quadriceps. Manager Mickey Callaway said the team hoped Cano would be available off the bench. The 36-year-old Cano was activated from the injured list Wednesday after being out since May 22 because of a strained left quadriceps, then limped off in the four innings with tightness in his quad.
UP NEXT
Giants: LHP Drew Pomeranz (1-6, 8.08 ERA) pitches at home against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (5-0, 3.20). In his last start, Pomeranz was tagged by Baltimore for eight runs in 1 1/3 innings. ”He just needs to get his confidence back,” manager Bruce Bochy said.
Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (3-5, 3.49) starts at home against Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (4-4, 5.33). DeGrom exited his last game with a hip cramp in the seventh inning. The NL Cy Young Award winner is 4-0 with a 1.02 ERA in six career starts vs. Colorado.
—
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
25% Bonus via Western Union
