San Francisco Giants vs New York Mets Box Score on Aug 26, 2021

Darin Ruf's pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth inning Thursday snapped a tie and lifted the visiting San Francisco Giants to a 3-2 win over the New York Mets and a sweep of the three-game series.

The Giants, who own baseball's best record at 83-44, maintained their 2 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. San Francisco is 18-5 this month. The Mets, who began August with a four-game lead in the NL East, fell to 6-18 this month and dropped 7 1/2 games behind the idle division-leading Atlanta Braves.

The Giants' Kris Bryant (first inning) and the Mets' Pete Alonso (sixth inning) hit two-run homers before San Francisco's Mike Yastrzemski singled leading off the eighth against Seth Lugo (3-2). Curt Casali was hit by a pitch before Ruf singled to right field to score Yastrzemski.

The Mets loaded the bases against Dominic Leone in the eighth before pinch-hitter Jeff McNeil grounded out against Jose Alvarez to end the inning. Tyler Rogers threw a perfect ninth to earn his 12th save and preserve the win for Jarlin Garcia (5-3), who allowed two hits over 1 2/3 innings as the first of four Giants relievers.

Yastrzemski had two hits.

Brandon Nimmo had three hits while Alonso and Javier Baez had two hits apiece for the Mets, who stranded nine baserunners a night after hitting into five double plays.

Carlos Carrasco, who had an 8.82 ERA in his first five starts, settled down after the Bryant homer and allowed just three hits and walked none while striking out five over seven innings -- his longest start since last Sept. 20, when he was pitching for the Cleveland Indians. The right-hander retired 20 of the 21 batters he faced after the Bryant homer, including the final 13 in a row.

Alonso's homer chased Giants starter Alex Wood, who gave up six hits and walked two while striking out five over 5 1/3 innings.

--Field Level Media