San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - The New York Mets' speciality this season has been their production with two outs. They added to those totals in Thursday's series finale at AT&T Park, a 9-1 win over the struggling San Francisco Giants.
New York scored eight two-out runs, half of which came in the first inning, giving them 215 for the season. The Mets entered play leading the majors in that category.
The beneficiary of the two-out prowess was Chris Young (3-5). The towering New York right-hander, who concluded July at 0-4 with a 6.00 ERA in five starts, gave up one run on four hits in seven innings.
Ronny Cedeno collected three hits and tied a career-high with five RBI for New York, which took three of four from San Francisco.
Melky Cabrera finished a home run shy of the cycle while recording three of the Giants' four hits. Barry Zito (8-8) allowed seven runs on six hits and walked three in 4 1/3 innings to absorb the loss.
San Francisco has dropped seven of eight, all at home. Despite their recent slide, the Giants still own a half-game lead over second-place Los Angeles in the NL West standings. Arizona, though, is lurking two games back.
The visitors posted a four-spot in the opening frame, loading the bases on consecutive two-out walks and a hit by pitch. Jason Bay singled home a pair and New York plated two more when Cabrera failed to glove Cedeno's fly ball in left. Cedeno was credited with a double on the play.
David Wright singled home Andres Torres, who had hit a two-out double, in the second to make it 5-0.
San Francisco got on the board in the fourth when Cabrera led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by newcomer Hunter Pence.
The Mets extended their lead with two runs in the fifth. Torres drew a leadoff walk and came around to score after Scott Hairston and Daniel Murphy hit back- to-back one-out singles.
Shane Loux, activated from the 15-day disabled list before the contest, relieved Zito and surrendered a two-out, RBI single to Cedeno.
The New York second baseman added another two-run double in the seventh.
Game Notes
The Giants wrapped up a 3-7 homestand...Loux missed 27 games with a neck strain...San Francisco also activated catcher Hector Sanchez from the 15-day DL. Sanchez, who went 0-for-4 on Thursday, had been sidelined with a left knee sprain since mid-July.
For more on the Giants, please check out McCovey Chronicles.
