A day after a costly error in the outfield, Dom Smith's bat led the way for the Mets in an 11-4 win over the Giants. >> Box score
Five things to know about Saturday's game
1) Smith had a tough Friday evening in the outfield, but his fortunes have since changed drastically. After his costly error less than 24 hours earlier, Smith scored the first run of the game with a bomb of a solo home run, which went over the deepest part of Oracle Park, Triples Alley in right-center field. Smith then recorded his second RBI of the game on a single in the fourth inning. As the Mets were padding runs on late in the ninth inning, Smith added two more RBI, bringing his game total to four with a single.
2) Smith was in the game early because Pete Alonso was not. Skipper Mickey Callaway gave Alonso the day off and started Smith at first base, despite Alonso's wishes to play. It paid off with Smith's early performance, but Alonso, despite not starting due to his rare day off, still found a way to contribute. Coming off the bench in the sixth inning, Alonso hit a 444-foot, three-home homer. Alonso reached 75 RBI on the season with the shot, a team rookie record.
3) Walker Lockett started in place of Zack Wheeler on Saturday. Only throwing 58 pitches in five innings, Lockett held the Giants to only one run on five hits with three strike outs. Lockett took the win (1-1), the first of his big league career in his third start for the Mets.
4) In relief, the Mets bullpen was strong in the later stages of the win, aside from Steve Nogosek. Justin Wilson allowed a leadoff single to Pablo Sandoval in the sixth inning, but then forced a double-play ball and then a ground out to end the frame. Tyler Bashlor then took over and sent down six-straight batters in the seventh and eighth inning in only 15 pitches, with two punch outs. Nogosek finished out the game in the ninth inning and was shaky, giving up a two-run homer to Alex Dickerson and solo homer to Mike Yastrzemski. The shots were too little, too late and Nogosek grinding out the rest of the inning to finish the game.
5) While Smith had the most notable multi-hit game for the Mets, several others had strong days at the plate, putting several balls into play. Jeff McNeil had a two-run homer which caught the foul ball pole in right field and single, while Todd Frazier had a triple and solo home run of his own. JD Davis and Amed Rosario each had three hits as well in the offensive explosion.
Highlights
Video: Dom Smith drives in 4 runs in Mets 11-4 blowout in SF
What's next
The Mets and Giants wrap their four-game set on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. Steven Matz (5-6, 4.87 ERA) starts for the Mets against Giants' Conner Menez in place of Drew Pomeranz, who will move to the Giants' bullpen. Menez will be making his first-career start.