“It just felt great to be able to come through for the team”, Monell said.
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Chris Heston threw seven and one-thirds shutout innings against the New York Mets, but it wasn’t enough as the Giants’ offense could only log three hits while the bullpen gave up three runs in the top of the ninth in their 3-0 loss on Monday night.
New York Mets relief pitcher Jeurys Familia (27) and catcher Johnny Monell (19) celebrate a 3-0 victory as the New York Mets face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 6, 2015. The Mets notched their second shutout in a row on a West Coast trip that has been a pleasant surprise thus far.
Granted, New York starter Jonathon Niese (4-8) was superb through eight innings, but it was clear he got some help from San Francisco hitters. The ex- Giants drove a shot into right field to score two for New York, then scored on a single from Juan Lagares. Heston retired Nieuwenhuis on a grounder to second to end that threat.
“I kind of lost my feel for everything for a few batters”, Niese said. “I wanted to slow the game down and stay calm to pitch against Posey”. First pitch is scheduled for a 10:15 PM (Eastern) start time and the game will be televised locally.
Niese (4-8) allowed just three hits – all singles – and two walks in his sixth consecutive quality start.
“He deserved it a lot”, Collins said.
It marked another rough outing for San Francisco’s bullpen, which has a 6.23 ERA during the skid. He walked four and struck out two. “Other than that I thought it went pretty well”. The lefty cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one hit when Heston singled through the left side of the infield with two outs in the third. Jeremy Affeldt is on the disabled list, and Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla were victimized once again, combining to surrender all three Mets runs in the ninth.
The right-hander was pulled after hitting Lagares with a pitch and walking Ruben Tejada sandwiched around a forceout on a ball that fell amid three players in short left field. Mejia completed his 80-game suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. The Giants have struggled without right fielder Hunter Pence (strained wrist tendon), but the team’s emotional leader took batting practice Sunday and could return before the end of the month.
Cain (1-1) had not pitched at the Giants’ waterfront ballpark since July 9, 2014, when he earned his last win before missing the final half of the season following elbow surgery. In his last 31 starts overall, deGrom has a 2.15 ERA. Colon misplayed a soft comebacker in the second inning, while Daniel Murphy bobbled a ground ball in the third that led to two San Francisco runs.
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Matt Cain will be on the hill for tomorrow’s game two of this three game series against the Mets, making his second start since returning from the disabled list. He made his first start in almost a year on Thursday, taking the loss against Miami. Chris has 1 start vs the Mets this year and he threw a no-hitter vs them in that game.
