SAN FRANCISCO — In the end, an early exit by Anthony DeSclafani and a ninth-inning blip from closer Jake McGee proved too much to overcome for the Giants, who fell short of a three-game sweep with a 6-2 loss to the Mets in 12 innings on Wednesday afternoon at Oracle Park.
Kevin Pillar, who was non-tendered by the Giants following the 2019 season, delivered the knockout punch, slugging a three-run homer off Tyler Chatwood to snap a 2-2 tie in the 12th. Chance Sisco added an RBI double to cap the Mets’ four-run rally off Chatwood, who allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits over two innings in his San Francisco debut.
Down to their last reliever, the Giants sent Chatwood to the mound with the game tied at 1-1 in the top of the 11th. He surrendered a double to Michael Conforto that scored automatic runner Jeff McNeil and put the Mets ahead, 2-1.
The Giants pulled even on Tommy La Stella’s RBI single off Jeurys Familia in the bottom of the 11th, but Chatwood again couldn’t keep the Mets at bay in his second inning. Jonathan Villar nearly opened the inning with an RBI double, but his shot down the left-field line was ruled foul following a replay review. Chatwood ended up striking out Villar, but he then allowed a single to Patrick Mazeika, setting up Pillar’s three-run blast out to left field.
DeSclafani departed after recording only four outs due to right ankle discomfort, but the Giants’ bullpen picked him up, as José Álvarez, Zack Littell, Jarlín García, Dominic Leone and Tyler Rogers came in to deliver 6 2/3 scoreless innings to turn a one-run lead over to McGee in the ninth.