Mets-Giants Final Score: Amazins' Take The Series, Win 9-1

The New York Mets had a brutal July. Luckily for them, it's now August.

The Amazins' beat the San Francisco Giants 9-1 on Thursday afternoon at AT&T Park to take three-of-four in the series. New York scored four runs in the first inning off of southpaw Barry Zito and from there, the rout was on.

Ronny Cedeno led the hit parade with a career day. The second baseman went 3-for-5 with two doubles and five RBI against Zito, who lasted just 4.1 innings after giving up seven runs.

Chris Young was much more effective for the Mets. The 6-foot-10 hurler threw seven strong frames while only allowing a single tally to the boys on the bay.

Daniel Murphy also had a nice day at the dish. Murphy collected a pair of hits and scoring a run, raising his average back to an even .300.

New York will now travel down the coast to finish up their western trip with a three-game set against the woeful San Diego Padres.

For more on the Mets, please be sure to check out our blog Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Mets (51-54) Vs. Giants (56-48): Game Time, TV Schedule, Pitching Probables

The New York Mets were the toast of the season's first half. A more familiar story has unfolded following the All-Star break, with the Mets winning just five games since then. They wrap up their series with the San Francisco Giants on Thursday afternoon, looking to build on a win the prior evening.

Chris Young (2-5, 4.58 ERA) gets the call for New York. He was hammered in his last start, giving up six runs over four innings to Arizona. His last victory came on June 28. Young has not started against the Giants since 2009, but has a 2-2 record with 1.32 ERA in his last five starts against them.

The Giants will go with Barry Zito, who has been struggling with home field advantage lately, posting a 1-4 record over his last five by the Bay. He gave up four runs and failed to make it through six innings in a July 28 drubbing by the Dodgers.

The game starts at 3:45 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast on SNY.

For more on the Mets, please be sure to check out our blog Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Mets-Giants Final Score: Jon Niese Rebounds As Mets Survive With 2-1 Win

Somehow the New York Mets managed to pull out the 2-1 win against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night despite their best efforts to lose it. This time, though, it wasn't the bullpen's fault in a wild last few innings.

Jonathan Niese bounced back nicely from his last start, tossing seven innings, giving up a run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts. The left-hander walked two in the first inning, but really settled down as he was able to spot his curveball much better than he did in his prior appearance. New York jumped out immediately to a 1-0 lead on a Ruben Tejada home run and scored the second run on a fielder's choice an inning later.

In the sixth inning, Niese left a cutter out over the middle of the plate that Buster Posey launched over the left-field wall to cut the lead to 2-1.

The Mets would then respond with three straight innings with the bases loaded, failing to score in a myriad of ways. In the seventh, Ruben Tejada walked with one out, Jordany Valdespin reached on an hour and David Wright walked. But Ike Davis, who has really gone cold of late, bounced into a double play to end that threat.

The eighth inning brought more disappointment. Daniel Murphy led of with a walk, stole second and then Jason Bay walked. Mike Baxter got it by the pitch, so the bases were loaded with nobody out. Again, though, they grounded into a double play that cut the run off at home, with Josh Thole doing the honors this time. Coach Terry Collins put on the risky double steal -- which was successful -- and then Justin Turner walked. But, Ruben Tejada quickly ended any hope with a groundout.

Only the Mets could end a ninth-inning threat this way: With one out, David Wright singled, Davis doubled and Murphy was intentionally walked. Jason Bay took possibly his best swing in months, lining a hot shot up the middle. Only Brad Penny snagged it at the mound and doubled off Murphy at first.

The game seemed fit to end in heartbreak, but Bobby Parnell came on and shut the door with two groundouts sandwiched in between a strikeout.

Mets (50-54) Vs. Giants (56-47): Game Time, TV Schedule, Pitching Probables

Trying to hold onto what could be considered a resurgence after some early poor play to start the second half of the season, the New York Mets will try and take Game 3 of the their four-game series Wednesday against host the San Francisco Giants (10:15 p.m. ET on SNY). Jon Niese (7-5) will take the mound for the Mets and oppose Giants ace Matt Cain (10-3).

The Mets, who're 3-3 during its current 11-game road trip, will be looking to bounce-back for a 4-1 loss to the Giants on Tuesday. New York took Game 1, 8-7, on Monday.

Niese will also be looking for some redemption of his own, as he allowed eight runs in just six innings in his last start. Meanwhile, Cain seemed almost hittable in the month of July posting just a 3.85 ERA in four starts.

Another storyline during Wednesday contest, will be the Mets facing a familiar foe in former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Hunter Pence, who was dealt to the Giants Tuesday, before the MLB's non-waiver trade deadline expired, and will make his San Francisco debut Wednesday.

For more on the Mets, please be sure to check out our blog Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Giants 4, Mets 1: Tim Lincecum Outduels Matt Harvey

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Tim Lincecum threw seven strong innings and the San Francisco Giants snapped a five-game skid with a 4-1 victory over the New York Mets.

Lincecum (5-11) gave up six hits and a run while striking out seven, including freezing pinch-hitter David Wright on a pitch to end the top of the seventh. The Mets left the bases full and the Giants tacked on an insurance run in the eighth on Marco Scutaro's RBI single.

Mets-Giants Final Score: Scott Hairston Hits Two Home Runs In Wild 10-Inning Win

It was only fitting that the final out of the New York Mets' 8-7, 10-inning win over the San Francisco Giants went to the fence. In one of the wildest games of the year, the Mets used seven pitchers, rallied from two down in the eighth, blew the save in the ninth, then survived using their cast of characters in the bullpen to win their second straight game and hand San Francisco its fifth straight loss.

In a game like this, full of up-and-down moments, it's almost impossible to pick where to start. But let's begin in the eighth as the final three innings provided enough drama for a month. Down 4-2, Scott Hairston tied the game up with his fourth home run of the season off a right-hander in Sergio Romo, who has been one of the most dominant set-up men in the game. New York wasn't done in the eighth, as it would score twice more against Romo, on a clutch Justin Turner pinch-hit double to center and an infield single by Rob Johnson.

Bobby Parnell entered for what appeared to be an easy save opportunity after Jon Rauch had a seven-pitch eighth inning to set him up. It quickly became apparent, though, that Parnell didn't have his typical good life on his fastball. He gave up a single to Melky Cabrera, an RBI double to Buster Posey on a pitch right down the middle and got a groundout, but with two lefties due up, manager Terry Collins summoned left-hander Josh Edgin to get the final two outs as the next two batters were lefties. In his 11th career game, Edgin was asked to get his first career save and he was unable to do so -- partially aided by the poor defense of Ike Davis. Edgin induced a bouncer to Davis at first, which the first baseman failed to come up with and the ball rolled into centerfield, tying the game. Ultimately no other runners crossed the plate, but in between two strikeouts were a walk and a single, so Edgin was clearly rattled.

In the top of the 10th, Hairston again slugged a home run off of a righty -- altogether, his 14th of the season. Hairston has played brilliantly lately and for a playoff contender looking for a right-handed bat that crushes lefties and can get really streaky, the outfielder could be a good fit. It just remains to be seen what general manager Sandy Alderson can pry away if he moves him. New York would score on another Johnson fielder's choice after a walk and a single proceeded it.

For the 10th, with the Mets down to their second-to-last reliever, Manny Acosta went out for the save. As could be expected, it was heart attack-inducing. The first batter he faced, he walked, as he displayed very little control. Melky Cabrera flew out to center, but then Acosta walked the next batter and out came Collins -- seeing the manager is rare, but this one was a dire circumstance -- for a visit. Acosta got Gregor Blanco to foul out, but with two outs, gave up a single to cut the lead to one run.

Brandon Belt took the first pitch he saw and crushed it to straightaway center, backing Jordany Valdespin up against the wall to preserve the win. The Mets may only have a 50-53 record, but you can't say this team doesn't produce enough entertainment (and drama).

Mets Vs. Giants: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Mets will try to stop their slide against the Giants in San Francisco on Monday night.