Patrick Bailey smashed a crucial grand slam in the eighth inning, while Matt Chapman’s exceptional defense at third base saved the day for the San Francisco Giants in their nail-biting 8-7 victory over the struggling New York Mets on Friday night.
Despite being down 6-2 in the eighth inning, the Giants refused to give up, marking their third consecutive road game where they overcame a deficit of at least four runs. This achievement puts them in rare company alongside the 1932 St. Louis Cardinals as the only MLB teams since 1900 to achieve such a feat on the road.
Manager Bob Melvin praised his team’s resilience, highlighting their fighting spirit until the very end of each game. The Giants have been consistently clutch when it matters most, with players stepping up to deliver crucial hits in key moments.
In the ninth inning, the Mets attempted a comeback, scoring a run on Francisco Lindor’s RBI single and loading the bases with just one out. However, Giants’ pitcher Camilo Doval rose to the occasion, striking out slugger J.D. Martinez on three pitches.
Doval then faced Mark Vientos, falling behind 3-0 before battling back to a full count. Vientos hit a slow grounder to third base, where Chapman executed a remarkable barehanded play, making a difficult throw across the diamond to secure the final out of the game.
“That was amazing, from both sides,” Melvin praised. “I didn’t think he had a chance to make that play.”
An excited Chapman jogged along the dugout railing, receiving enthusiastic high-fives from his teammates for his outstanding play. The out call at first base stood firm even after a replay review.
“I think that’s the most thrilled I’ve ever been after making a play,” Chapman shared. “To make a game-ending play on defense with the bases loaded and the game on the line, I think that’s probably the best one, for sure. It even surprised me a little bit, so it was just a lot of fun.”
Bailey’s grand slam wasn’t the only highlight of the game. Jorge Soler and Mike Yastrzemski also hit home runs for the Giants, who secured their seventh win in eight games, bringing their record to .500 for the first time since March 31 when they were 2-2.
Despite trailing 6-2 with two outs in the eighth inning, the Giants staged an impressive comeback. Thairo Estrada’s RBI double followed by Chapman’s walk to load the bases set the stage for Bailey’s memorable hit off Reed Garrett’s 2-0 fastball, marking his first career grand slam.
“Mendoza commented, “He’s been really consistent for us the whole year and he just happened to have a bad inning today,” referring to Garrett’s performance.
Bailey hit his first home run since April 26. He was back in the lineup on Tuesday after recovering from a concussion.
Yastrzemski also hit a solo home run in the ninth inning, extending the Giants’ lead to 8-6. Earlier this week, the Giants were down 5-0 against the Pirates but managed to win 9-5 in extra innings. They also came from behind to beat the Pirates 7-6 on Thursday.
Before this week, the Giants had never won consecutive road games after trailing by four runs, let alone three in a row. Bailey expressed his excitement about the win, saying, “That was a great win. We never give up.”
The Mets, with a record of 21-29, are off to their worst start in 50 games since 2013. They have lost four games in a row and 11 out of their last 14. Martinez, Vientos, and Alonso all hit home runs for the Mets. This loss marked the fifth time the Mets lost three consecutive games despite hitting three home runs in each game.
Mets owner Steve Cohen expressed disappointment in the team’s performance on social media, thanking fans for their continued support.
The Mets’ bullpen struggled again, costing rookie pitcher Christian Scott his first career win. Despite Scott’s strong performance, allowing only two runs and two hits in six innings, the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. “We’re frustrated,” Mendoza expressed. “But we’ve got to stay upbeat and keep pushing forward.”
Nick Avila pitched well, striking out four batters in two innings and earning his first win in the Major Leagues. Camilo Doval secured his ninth save with support from Chapman and a great defensive play by Estrada and Wade.
Martinez and Vientos hit consecutive home runs for the Mets, the first time they’ve done so this season, against rookie pitcher Kyle Harrison in the fifth inning.
