Nice-O-Ronny and The San Francisco Sweep

Mets 5 Giants 3 (Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA)

Mets record: 62-44

Mets streak: Won 7

WP - Jose Butto (3-1)

LP - Rich Rodriguez (3-2)

SV - Edwin Diaz (23)

L10 7-3

Seat on the Korner: Ronny Mauricio

We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.

We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a seat on the Korner—just as Ralph Kiner used to do on those classic WOR Channel 9 broadcasts during the early decades of Mets baseball. Today, it’s a no-doubter: Ronny Mauricio earns the honors. The 24-year-old infielder had a breakout performance, going 4-for-4 with two RBIs, two doubles, a towering home run into McCovey Cove, and even chipped in with a heads-up defensive play. With trade rumors swirling and the Mets potentially looking to move one of their surplus infielders, Mauricio’s big day served as a loud reminder that the Mets might not be quite so reluctant to deal one of their other surplus young infielders, knowing they have a 24-year-old who looks more than ready to take on a larger role.

Need to Know

• The Mets completed a sweep in San Francisco and extended their division lead, to a game and a half-game ahead of the Phillies, who lost earlier in the day.

• Kodai Senga bounced back with a mixed bag of a start, going 5 innings while allowing 3 earned runs on 4 hits, 5 walks, and 3 strikeouts. All the damage came courtesy of Matt Chapman, who took Senga deep twice — a solo shot in the 1st and a two-run blast in the 3rd. Despite the command issues, Senga limited the rest of the Giants' lineup and continues to carry a stellar season stat line, including a 2.00 ERA .

• This was Senga’s second career start against the Giants. In his first go-round (April 2023), he gave up four runs and issued four walks over five innings — a reflection of his early control issues in the majors.

• 

  The Mets have won seven straight games after dropping three straight...The

  team has posted a 2.29 ERA (16 ER/63.0 IP) with 25 walks and 62 strikeouts over that span.

• The Giants, reeling after dropping nine of their last 12, turned to a bullpen-heavy approach tonight, starting with lefty Matt Gage, Spencer Bivens followed opener Matt Gage and gave the Giants 3-plus innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits with 3 strikeouts. He came back out for the 5th but surrendered back-to-back doubles before being lifted for former Met Joey Lucchesi. While Bivens has struggled lately — posting a 14.21 ERA over his last five outings — he’s been a reliable length option for San Francisco, recording at least four outs in 16 of his 34 appearances. A baseball globetrotter, Bivens’ unconventional path to the majors took him through France, the Czech Republic, and various independent leagues before signing with the Giants in 2022. Despite recent results, his average exit velocity allowed (85.7 mph) ranks in the top 2% of all MLB pitchers.

• Starling Marte has multiple hits in six straight games.

• Prior to the game the Mets announced the following: LHP Gregory Soto — Reported to the Major League team. Soto will wear #65. LHP José Castillo — Designated for assignment.

• Gregory Soto, acquired from the Orioles,the hard-throwing lefty adds depth to the Mets bullpen with a fastball that routinely touches 97 and a strong whiff rate — though walks have been an issue. He made his Mets debut in the 7th inning retiring Lee, Ramos and Devers in order.

  
  

Turning Point

The Giants came to bat in the bottom of the third inning, looking to respond to the Mets’ early 1-0 lead. With two outs and Heliot Ramos on second, Willy Adames chopped a ball toward third that looked destined to go for an infield single. But instead of holding at second and giving the Giants two on with Matt Chapman looming, Ramos made a critical baserunning blunder. He broke for third, and Ronny Mauricio — charging in on the play — alertly beat Ramos to the bag and tagged him out to end the inning.

It was a mental lapse that may have shifted the tone of the game. One pitch later and it could’ve been Chapman batting with two on — the same Chapman who launched a game tying homer to lead off the very next inning. While the Giants did eventually take the lead in the 5th, Ramos’ miscue possibly spared Kodai Senga from an early exit and short-circuited what could have been a game-changing rally.

Three Keys

Started From The Bottom

Started from the bottom, now they're here. The lower half of the Mets lineup turned Oracle Park into their own personal stage, and you just know Drake would've loved this one. Starling Marte (batting 6th), Francisco Alvarez (in the 8-hole), and Ronny Mauricio (9th) combined to go a blistering 8-for-11 with four runs scored, flipping the lineup card upside down and driving the offense all night. Marte kept his hot streak rolling, Alvarez looked like a seasoned vet, and Mauricio added both bat and glove — including the heads-up play that erased a Giants rally in the 3rd. Started from the bottom? More like carried from it.

Never Devers

The Mets did a masterful job neutralizing the heart of the Giants’ lineup in their sweep-clinching win, holding the top three hitters—Jung Hoo Lee, Heliot Ramos, and Rafael Devers—hitless for the afternoon. Lee and Ramos each went 0-for-3, while Devers finished 0-for-4, though all three reached base in the ninth to set up a dramatic finish. With two outs and the tying runs aboard, the red-hot Matt Chapman—already 2-for-4 with two home runs—stepped to the plate. But Edwin Díaz rose to the occasion, blowing a fastball past Chapman to lock down the save and the sweep. The rest of the Giants' lineup mustered just four hits all game.

This Pen Writes Zeroes

The Mets' bullpen was lights-out in today's win, locking down the final four innings with a mix of power, poise, and precision. After Kodai Senga battled through five innings, allowing three runs but stranding eight Giants on base, the bullpen took over and slammed the door. José Buttó picked up the win with a clean sixth, followed by scoreless frames from Gregory Soto and Reed Garrett, who combined for three strikeouts. Brooks Raley worked around a hit to finish the eighth, and Edwin Díaz brought the drama in the ninth—walking two, hitting a batter and striking out two—but ultimately sealed his 23rd save of the season. In total, the bullpen tossed 4.0 shutout innings, allowed just two hits and two walks, and struck out six. It was a textbook example of bullpen depth and execution, preserving the lead and the sweep.