The Mets have historically not done very well at Oracle Park in San Francisco. But the 2025 Mets are doing their best to change that narrative, taking the first two games of their three-game series with the Giants, 2-1.
Neither starter was particularly sharp in the first inning. It took Robbie Ray 26 pitches to get through the first, which was extended by a poor throw by Matt Chapman, which led to Pete Alonso reaching first, but the Mets couldn’t get a run across.
David Peterson was able to get through
the first a little easier, but only because of a stellar double play started by Mark Vientos nabbing a line drive off the bat of Chapman. Vientos almost threw the ball away when attempting to double up Rafael Devers, but Brett Baty made a nice pick to complete the play.
In the second, Francisco Alvarez drilled a ball to right-center field for a two-out triple, but he was stranded when Tyrone Taylor struck out to end the frame. A double-play ended the second for the Giants after they got two on against Peterson.
In the third, Alonso led off with a single, which was followed up by a Starling Marte double. Another error led to Baty reaching first and loading the bases with no outs. However, a strike out to Vientos and a double play off the bat of Alvarez ended the threat and kept the game tied at 0-0.
Back to back singles led off the fourth, keeping the carousel of baserunners going. Peterson then struck out old friend Wilmer Flores for the first out of the inning and Peterson’s first K of the day. A questionable ball four call to Casey Schmitt led the bases. A fielder’s choice off the bat of Jung Hoo Lee led to the first run of the evening, putting the Giants up 1-0.
The Mets went down quietly in the top of the fifth, and the Phillies put two more baserunners on in the bottom of the inning, but couldn’t push another run across.
In the sixth, the Mets’ bats finally were able to do something. Juan Soto led off the inning with a walk and, after an Alonso pop out, stole second base. Marte then walked, and Baty pushed both runners up with a ground out. Vientos then drilled a ball down the left-field line, scoring both and putting the Mets up 2-1.
That would close the book on Ray, who was pulled for Ryan Walker. Walker then walked both Alvarez and Taylor to load the bases again. However, he got Nimmo looking at strike three to end the frame.
Peterson went out for the sixth and, aside from a single that turned into an out at second off the bat of Flores, ended his day strongly. This was Peterson’s 13th start of at least six innings, as well as his fourth in a row.
Old friend Joey Lucchessi pitched a scoreless seventh for the Giants, working around another sloppy play at first by Devers that led to Soto reaching first. Reed Garrett pitched a perfect bottom of the frame for the Mets, striking out two.
Marte led off the eighth with a double over the first base line off of Tyler Rogers. A groundout by Baty, a strikeout by Luisangel Acuña, and a groundout by Alvarez led to the run being stranded. Ryne Stanek pitched a scoreless eighth, keeping it a one-run game going into the ninth.
Randy Rodríguez entered the game in the ninth and struck out both Taylor and Nimmo to start the inning. An infield single by Lindor brought up Soto, who struck out looking to end the frame.
Edwin Díaz pitched the ninth for the Mets. With one out, Lee missed a home run by just a few feet as he lined a double off the right-center field wall. Mike Yastrzemski got called out on a check-swing, and then Patrick Bailey lined out to Alonso to end the game.
Although the Mets won the game, the offense fell back asleep after a big night last night. The Mets left ten men on base and went just 2-11 with runners in scoring position. With three strikeouts, Tyrone Taylor is making the case for the Mets to upgrade at center field before the end of the week.
The Giants haven’t announced a starter for tomorrow, but Kodai Senga will take the hill for the Mets as they go for the sweep.
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Box scores
Win Probability Added
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Big Mets winner: Mark Vientos, +21.0% WPA
Big Mets loser: Francisco Alvarez, -18.3% WPA
Mets pitchers: +62.3% WPA
Mets hitters: -12.3% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Mark Vientos’s two-RBI double, +30.4% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Jung Hoo Lee’s ninth inning double, -16.7%
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