New Yorkers Refuse to Play Nice With the Giants

Henry Blanco hit a leadoff homer in the 11th inning, New York's second game-ending drive by a catcher in less than a day, and the Mets beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4 on Saturday for their ninth straight home win.
     
Blanco drove a 1-0 pitch from former Mets reliever Guillermo Mota (0-1) just over the wall in left for his first homer of the season. Rod Barajas connected in the ninth inning Friday night to give New York a 6-4 victory.

Jason Bay and Angel Pagan had two RBIs apiece for the Mets, who haven't lost at Citi Field since a 9-3 setback against the Chicago Cubs on April 21. Hisanori Takahashi (3-1) pitched a perfect 11th for the victory.

New York (17-13) has won three of four overall and leads the majors with 13 home wins.

Aubrey Huff drove in two runs for San Francisco, which lost catcher and cleanup hitter Bengie Molina to a tight left hamstring in the third. Slumping slugger Pablo Sandoval singled in the fourth to end an 0-for-15 slide and hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Mets ace Johan Santana bounced back from the worst start of his career, pitching into the eighth inning. He lasted just 3 2-3 innings in an embarrassing loss at Philadelphia last Sunday.

Santana was replaced after Sandoval's fly ball to left cut New York's lead to 4-3, but the bullpen couldn't preserve the victory for the left-hander.

With two out and Aaron Rowand on first, Fernando Nieve surrendered a single to Eli Whiteside. Mets manager Jerry Manuel then brought in lefty specialist Pedro Feliciano to face Huff, who lined a tying single into left-center.

The crowd of 36,764 booed as Manuel came out to get Feliciano, and Jenrry Mejia struck out Juan Uribe to end the inning.

Santana allowed four runs and eight hits, struck out six and walked none.

Giants starter Todd Wellemeyer struggled with his control and the Mets took advantage, building a 3-0 lead while collecting just one hit in the first two innings.

Pagan was the catalyst in the fast start. He walked and scored on Bay's sacrifice fly in the first, and with two out and two on in the second, the speedy center fielder sliced a two-run triple into the right-field corner.

The Mets almost had a third run in the second but Uribe made a diving catch at shortstop on Luis Castillo's liner to end the inning, leaving Pagan at third.

Wellemeyer allowed four runs and three hits over 4 1-3 innings in his first start since April 27. He tossed three scoreless innings in a relief appearance against Colorado last Sunday.

Molina was replaced by Whiteside before the Mets batted in the bottom of the third. He led off the second with a single off the left-field wall, raising his batting average to .333, but it was unclear when his hamstring began to bother him.

Castillo also departed with a bruised left foot and is day to day. The second baseman went out to his position before the Giants batted in the eighth, but was replaced by Alex Cora after Manuel and a trainer came out to check on him before the inning started.

NOTES: Trash blew across the field at several points during the windy day. ... Barajas' left hand was swollen and sore hours after he was struck by Whiteside, who swung at a pitchout that wasn't outside enough. Barajas said he told Manuel he was OK, but the manager decided to give him the day off. ... Giants RHP Sergio Romo, who gave up Barajas' homer Friday night, is 0-2 with a 12.46 ERA and a blown save in his last five appearances, including three in four days before Saturday's game. "We may have to back him off a little bit," manager Bruce Bochy said.