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But wearing his Mets uniform, Hairston was definitely recognized as he came to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning Saturday as the potential tying run. A chorus of boos quickly turned to cheers, though, as relief pitcher Sergio Romo struck out Hairston on three pitches to secure a 3-1 victory for the San Francisco Giants.
A day after punishing Wilson and the Giants’ bullpen, the Mets were hoping for more of the same Saturday when they forced the Giants ace Tim Lincecum from the game after only six innings.
Instead, Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez and Romo picked up where Lincecum left off as they all combined to hold the Mets scoreless over the final eight innings. The Mets scored on consecutive doubles in the first inning by Carlos Beltran and Daniel Murphy but managed only two more hits the rest of the game.
That lack of offense, especially on a night when Lincecum was not at his most commanding, was a significant factor in the loss. But so, too, was the Mets’ inability to turn any of the three potential double play balls in the first inning as the Giants scored twice. In fact, the Giants scored all three of their runs on potential double play balls.
“We’ve got to turn the double play,” Mets Manager Terry Collins said. “We’ve got to get outs when they are attainable.”
On the first play, shortstop Ruben Tejada, playing in place of the injured Jose Reyes, was a tad slow making the relay throw from Justin Turner, and his throw bounced. First baseman Lucas Duda, playing in place of Ike Davis, should have made the scoop but could not hold onto the ball, and a run scored.
Later in the inning, Tejada, ranging to his left, tried to tag Pat Burrell, the runner heading to second base, but he missed, and his throw to get the batter, Nate Schierholtz, was late. Instead of making one sure out, he tried to get two, and got neither, as Miguel Tejada scored.
Finally, Aubrey Huff hit a ball to the right side with Pablo Sandoval on third. Turner made the play, Tejada made the relay and Duda caught the ball, but Huff beat it out and Sandoval scored.
If Mets starter Chris Capuano was frustrated at his young infielders’ inability to convert, he did not show it.
“They weren’t exactly tailor made,” he said.
In the seventh, with Bobby Parnell pitching, the Giants scored again when Sandoval hit a bouncer up the middle. Tejada fielded the ball and flipped it to Turner, but his back was turned to first base and he was in an awkward position to make a strong relay. Aaron Rowand scored to make it 3-1.
Lincecum did not have his best command, walking four in six innings, but he limited the Mets to one run and four hits as he evened his record at 7-7. Capuano (8-
might have pitched better, but the Mets could not generate any offense.They did get Lincecum to throw 114 pitches through six innings and forced him out of the game. But as opposed to Friday night, the Giants’ bullpen was up to the task.
INSIDE PITCH
Francisco Rodriguez did not deny a report in MLB.com that he switched agents, from Paul Kinzer to Scott Boras. “I don’t want to talk about it,” he said. ... David Wright is progressing well in his recovery from a stress fracture in his lower back and is expected to start playing in minor league rehabilitation games Wednesday, Terry Collins said. Wright, who has been on the disabled list since May 16, could join the Mets on their next trip. ... Ike Davis has also made solid progress in his recovery from a bone bruise, Collins said, adding hope that he will not need season-ending surgery. The big test will come in a day or two when he runs. ... Jose Reyes made some incremental progress with his left hamstring strain, and Collins is still hopeful he can return July 22 for the first game of the coming trip.
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