The New York Mets could not match the power they displayed one night earlier, falling 9-5 to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday at Citi Field after allowing six home runs.
Zac Thornton endured his first rough start in several outings, surrendering six earned runs on seven hits over five innings. Four of those hits left the ballpark, making Thornton the first Mets pitcher to allow four home runs in a game since José Quintana did so in 2024.
Rafael Devers opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning, but Thornton settled in after that, striking out the next two batters. The Mets briefly moved in front in the second when A.J. Ewing launched a two-run homer.
San Francisco regained the lead in the third when Christian Koss hit a two-run home run. Thornton responded by retiring the next three batters and then struck out the side in the fourth, finishing with seven strikeouts.
The fifth inning proved costly. Koss led off with his second home run of the afternoon, and after Jonah Cox singled, Devers followed with his second homer of the game, a two-run shot that pushed the Giants ahead 6-2.
Thornton threw 82 pitches, 59 for strikes, and saw his earned run average rise from 2.93 to 3.53.
The Giants added two more home runs against the Mets’ bullpen. Osleivis Basabe hit a two-run homer off Jefry Yan in the eighth, while Grant McCray added a solo shot against Justin Hagenman in the ninth.
New York managed only five hits, including two from Jared Young. The Mets loaded the bases in the seventh but scored only once on Brett Baty’s bases-loaded walk.
The Mets and Giants will finish the series Sunday at 1:40 p.m. Christian Scott will start for New York against Cesar Perdomo.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.