Patrick Bailey hits a 3-run homer in the 8th to lift the Giants past the Mets, 5-4

By JERRY BEACH
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Patrick Bailey hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning to help the San Francisco Giants beat the reeling New York Mets 5-4 on Friday night.

The Mets opened June by completing a three-game sweep of Philadelphia, then went 6-19 the rest of the way, losing 15 games in the NL East standings to first-place Atlanta and falling nine games behind the Giants in the race for the final wild card.

“I dwell on trying to win that ballgame tonight and those numbers and mathematic (facts) — I understand they mean a lot in our game, trust me, but it’s about trying to figure out a way to win the next game and string some things together,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said.

“Tougher things have been overcome. I tell you one thing: I wouldn’t doubt these guys. I can tell you that. Someone’s going to make a mistake if they do.”

The Mets took a 4-2 lead into the eighth, but Pete Alonso — who snapped his bat over his knees after popping out to strand Jeff McNeil at second in the fifth — misplayed Joc Pederson’s one-out grounder, and David Robertson (2-2) walked J.D. Davis before Bailey, a rookie playing in his 33rd game, homered to straightaway center.

“That was as good as it gets,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “That was superstar-caliber stuff. A big three-run home run against one of the tougher relievers in baseball.”

The homer was the first three-run blast surrendered by Robertson since he gave up a three-run homer to the Kansas City Royals’ Brian Goodwin on July 18, 2018.

“Catching my curveball deep and taking me to the deepest part of the park — don’t think I’ve ever given up any home runs like that in years past,” Robertson said. “But it’s happened to me now, so I guess I’ve got to make some adjustments.”

Sean Manaea (3-3) was the winner after throwing a scoreless seventh. Camilo Doval walked Luis Guillorme with one out in the ninth before finishing for his 24th save.

“Just seems like nothing’s going our way,” Robertson said. “Don’t get the big outs when we need them. Don’t get the big hits when we need them. Don’t make quality pitches when we need them.”

Wilmer Flores homered and Brandon Crawford had an RBI single for the Giants. They went 18-8 in June with 10 comeback victories.

“If we’re going to go down, we’re going to give you our best shot, at least,” Davis said.

Tommy Pham homered for the Mets, and McNeil hit two RBI doubles.

Giants starter Alex Cobb allowed three runs — two earned — in five innings. Carlos Carrasco gave up two runs in five innings for the Mets.

SENTIMENTAL STREET

Giants outfielder Michael Conforto, who played with the Mets from 2015 through 2021, appeared to tear up during a video tribute just before first pitch.

Conforto hit .255 with 132 homers and 396 RBIs in 757 regular-season games for the Mets. The club aired footage of Conforto meeting with children benefiting from his charity, the Conforto Cares Program, and ended the tribute with the words “for the love, for the passion, for the moments, thank you Michael.”

Conforto sat out Friday because of a left hamstring injury.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets left-hander José Quintana (left rib) made his fourth rehab start, giving up two runs over 2 2/3 innings for Triple-A Syracuse. Manager Buck Showalter said there is a chance Quintana could return to the rotation before the All-Star Break.

UP NEXT

Giants RHP Anthony DeSclafani (4-7, 4.28 ERA) was set to face RHP Justin Verlander (2-4, 4.11 ERA) on Saturday.

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