The Giants offense tried to fight back after finding themselves in an early 0-3 hole, but came up short as the Mets were able to add two more runs and hanging on, defeating San Francisco 5-3. Starter Matt Cain did not appear to be functioning fully, giving up all five Mets runs.
After struggling in the first inning and giving up three runs, Cain pitched well until the fourth when he gave up a two-run shot to Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, giving them a 5-1 lead. His day was done after five innings of work, and it was not a good one. He only recorded three strikeouts while walking four batters, and giving up five hits. The bullpen did a good job keeping the Mets off the board for the rest of the game. Jack Taschner pitched a perfect sixth inning with a strikeout before handing the ball over to Keiichi Yabu. Yabu pitched into the ninth inning, giving up three hits, a walk, and striking out two. Tyler Walker was required to get the final two outs of the ninth and did so without a problem.
Offensively, the Giants had a tough time putting any good scoring opportunities together, scoring a single run in the third, sixth, and eighth innings. Fred Lewis was hitless out of the leadoff spot, and Aaron Roward also failed to connect for a hit. Batting second, Jose Castillo had a decent day, going two-for-four with singles, driving in one run, and reaching base on a walk. Second baseman Travis Denker also went two-for-four with a double and triple while scoring a run. Regular catcher Bengie Molina was given the day off, but appeared as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning, and hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the third Giants run. Mets closer Billy Wagner shut San Francisco down in the ninth inning once again.
With the day off today, the Giants will travel to Washington for a weekend series against the Nationals. Game one on Friday is set for 4:35 p.m. Tim Lincecum will hope to get the Giants off to a good start in the first game of the series. He will be opposed by Jason Bergmann.
