New arrivals watch Mets fall to Giants in 10 innings
Cedric Mullins #28 of the New York Mets pops out to end the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Most of the talk surrounding the Mets’ trade deadline activity was positive. And rightfully so.
On Friday night against the Giants, it looked as if one of the Mets’ major acquisitions could help turn their first game after the trade deadline into a magical one.
After the Mets rallied from two runs down to tie it in the eighth inning, new acquisition Ryan Helsley — a two-time All-Star closer with the Cardinals — struck out three and touched 100 mph seven times in a scoreless ninth.
But former Met Dominic Smith’s RBI single off Edwin Diaz in the 10th gave the Giants the lead, and the Mets could not produce the tying run with the top of their order up in a 4-3 loss in front of 42,777 at a sold-out Citi Field.
In the bottom of the 10th, Brandon Nimmo popped to second, Francisco Lindor was hit by a pitch, Juan Soto popped to second and Pete Alonso walked to load the bases for Ronny Mauricio. He struck out swinging as Randy Rodriguez (1.17 ERA) secured his second career save.
“That’s a really good arm there,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “You’re talking about a guy that throws 100. Explosive fastball, and then the breaking ball — slider, sweeper — is pretty good too. I thought he got in to the lefties. [Nimmo] trying to get the guy over there, and gets in there for a soft pop-up. Same thing with Juan . . . I thought Pete had a really good at-bat. But then again, he was very aggressive and threw fastballs by Mauricio there.”
The Mets (62-48) lost their fourth straight and fell a half-game behind the NL East-leading Phillies (62-47).
With one out in the eighth, Nimmo worked a walk, Lindor singled and Soto’s single off Joey Lucchesi’s foot trickled into leftfield to cut the Mets’ deficit to 3-2.
Jose Butto — whom the Mets traded to the Giants (55-55) in a package for submariner Tyler Rogers — came on to face Alonso, whose sacrifice fly tied it at 3. Mauricio, pinch hitting for Starling Marte, walked to bring up Brett Baty, who pinch hit for Mark Vientos and grounded out to third to end the inning.
Helsley made his Mets debut in a 3-3 game in the ninth, walking onto the field to “Hells Bells” by AC/DC. He worked around a one-out single by Patrick Bailey and a two-out single by Rafael Devers.
“Lights out,” David Peterson said. “He was all over it. I think we’re all excited to have all the guys that we brought over. Now that we’re past it, this is our group, and we’re ready to continue all the way through the end of the year.”
The Mets went down in order to end the ninth, with Cedric Mullins — pinch hitting for Tyrone Taylor — popping up to third baseman Matt Chapman in his first Mets at-bat.
The lefthanded-hitting Mullins, who has reverse splits and hits lefties better than righties, batted against righthander Ryan Walker (3-4), who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth. Mendoza said he did not consider pinch-hitting Mullins for Taylor earlier in the game, though there was an opportunity against the lefthanded Lucchesi to lead off the eighth.
Alonso gave the Mets life with a 414-foot solo shot to lead off the seventh, clobbering a 2-and-0 fastball into the Giants’ bullpen to cut the deficit to 3-1. It was Alonso’s 249th career homer, moving him within three of Darryl Strawberry for the franchise’s all-time record.
Peterson allowed four hits and two earned runs — both in the second inning — in a six-inning start, striking out four and walking two. It was his fifth straight quality start.
“I felt good about it,” he said. “I wish I would have left the game in a different spot.”
Giants lefthander Robbie Ray retired 12 of the first 14 batters he faced and did not allow a hit until Vientos’ one-out single in the fifth, which extended his hitting streak to a career high-tying 10 games. Ray allowed four hits in seven innings of one-run ball.
“I thought he located fastballs,” Mendoza said. “Pretty much, he was at the knees below the strike zone. He hit the corners. We chased a little bit, and then he elevated effectively when he needed to and got some pop-ups, but just kept us guessing.”
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
