Yoenis Cespedes grand slam caps Mets' 12-run inning in win over Giants
NEW YORK — For a while there, it seemed as though the New York Mets would never make another out.
Yoenis Cespedes and the rest of the Mets broke loose for a team-record 12 runs in the third inning Friday night, rolling to their seventh straight victory with a 13-1 blowout of the San Francisco Giants.
Cespedes set a club mark with six RBIs in the inning, connecting for a two-run single off starter Jake Peavy and a grand slam against reliever Mike Broadway that capped the outburst.
"Everybody was barreling balls up that inning," Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki said. "It was pretty crazy, really. Just one after the other after the other."
The Mets' Yoenis Cespedes is greeted in the dugout after hitting a grand slam against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning Friday in New York.
The early barrage made it an easy night for Steven Matz (3-1) in the opener of a three-game series between the last two NL champions. The left-hander tossed six shutout innings to win his third consecutive start.
Michael Conforto had an RBI double and a run-scoring single in the Mets' third, which lasted 39 minutes. He and Cespedes were two of the four players who scored twice. Asdrubal Cabrera greeted Broadway with a two-run double.
"One of those freaky things that you don't ever expect to have against a team as good as the Giants," Mets manager Terry Collins said.
The first eight New York batters reached safely, four on walks, before Matz struck out trying to bunt. Curtis Granderson, David Wright and Conforto then singled before Cespedes launched his third career slam into the left-field corner.
"It's unbelievable," Conforto said. "He's been nursing his leg and hasn't seen live pitching in three, four days, and he just comes out there, doesn't miss a beat. I mean, it's just incredible."
Back in the lineup after missing five starts with a bruised right thigh, Cespedes set another franchise record by getting an extra-base hit for the ninth straight game — also a career best.
New York (14-7) has won 12 of 14 and owns the longest current winning streak in the majors.
"We've just been grinding on pitchers," Conforto said. "We've been tough."
The previous Mets record was 11 runs in the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 16, 2006. Butch Huskey held the old team mark for RBIs in an inning with five in the sixth against the Marlins on May 26, 1998.
It was the biggest inning against the Giants since they gave up 13 runs in the sixth to the Montreal Expos in San Francisco on May 7, 1997.
Peavy (1-2) got only six outs on 70 pitches. The right-hander walked five in two-plus innings and was charged with six runs and four hits. He has an 8.61 ERA after five starts, having allowed 39 hits and seven walks in 23 innings.
"Obviously, I know I've got to be better. I'm not OK with anything that's happened," Peavy said. "I'm not concerned with thinking anything's going the wrong way. That being said, we've got to figure out a way to get some results in this next start."
Angel Pagan homered for the Giants in the seventh. San Francisco had won five of six.
"This is going to be a great test for us this weekend," Collins said before the game. "Two good teams going head to head, with big expectations."
NOT HIS BEST
It was Peavy's shortest start without leaving due to injury since he lasted only one inning for San Diego against Philadelphia on June 2, 2009. "He was a slow starter last year," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "I still believe he will come back and be the guy he was last year when he came back from the injury and off the DL. But it's a tough time for him."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: RHP Sergio Romo and RHP George Kontos threw before the game. Each reliever is on the 15-day disabled list with a right flexor strain. Romo plans to play catch from 75 feet again Saturday. "They feel fine, so they're on their way," Bochy said.
Mets: Wright will be rested Saturday, Collins said. ... Cespedes started for the first time since last Friday in Atlanta. He came off the bench for one at-bat during that stretch, delivering a tying, pinch-hit, three-run homer Tuesday against Cincinnati. "You get used to him doing something big," Collins said.
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Matt Cain (0-2, 6.43 ERA) makes his fifth start of the season Saturday afternoon. Cain is 0-5 since his most recent win on July 22 last year at San Diego.
Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (2-0, 1.54) makes his third start of the year. He won Sunday in Atlanta after missing time due to a strained lat muscle and health complications involving his newborn son. The 2014 NL Rookie of the Year is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in two starts against San Francisco.
