< Yoenis Cespedes
hits a grand slam and drives in six runs as the Mets win their seventh straight game, beating the Giants 13-1 on Friday.
New York — Yoenis Cespedes and the New York Mets broke loose for a team-record 12 runs in the third inning Friday night, rolling to their seventh straight victory with a 13-1 blowout of the San Francisco Giants.
Cespedes set a club mark with six RBIs in the inning, connecting for a two-run single off starter Jake Peavy and a grand slam off reliever Mike Broadway that capped the outburst.
The early barrage made it an easy night for Steven Matz (3-1) in the opener of a three-game series between the last two NL champions. The left-hander tossed six shutout innings to win his third consecutive start.
Michael Conforto had an RBI double and a run-scoring single in the Mets' third, which lasted 39 minutes, 47 seconds. He and Cespedes were two of the four players who scored twice. Asdrubal Cabrera greeted Broadway with a two-run double.
The first eight New York batters reached safely, four on walks, before Matz struck out trying to bunt. Curtis Granderson, David Wright and Conforto then singled before Cespedes launched his third career slam to left field.
Cespedes was back in the lineup after missing five starts with a bruised right thigh. New York (14-7), which hardly missed a beat without him, has won 12 of 14 and owns the longest current winning streak in the majors.
The previous Mets record was 11 runs in the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 16, 2006. Butch Huskey held the previous team mark for RBIs in an inning with five in the sixth against the Florida Marlins on May 26, 1998.
It was the biggest inning against the Giants since they gave up 13 runs in the sixth to the Montreal Expos in San Francisco on May 7, 1997.
Peavy (1-2) got only six outs on 70 pitches. The right-hander walked five in two-plus innings and was charged with six runs and four hits.
It was his shortest start since he left with an injury after 1 2/3 innings with the Chicago White Sox against the Angels on July 6, 2010. The last time he was chased this quickly not because of injury was a one-inning start for San Diego against Philadelphia on June 2, 2009.
Angel Pagan homered for the Giants off Jerry Blevins in the seventh. San Francisco had won five of six.
"This is going to be a great test for us this weekend," Mets manager Terry Collins said before the game. "Two good teams going head to head, with big expectations."
Trainer's room
Giants: Manager Bruce Bochy said he thought RHP Sergio Romo (right flexor strain) began playing catch Friday, as expected. ... RHP George Kontos (right flexor strain) is probably getting close to throwing off a mound sometime this weekend, Bochy said.
Mets: Cespedes started for the first time since last Friday in Atlanta. He set another franchise record by getting an extra-base hit in his ninth straight game.
Up next
Giants: RHP Matt Cain (0-2, 6.43 ERA) makes his fifth start of the season Saturday afternoon. Cain is 0-5 since his most recent win on July 22 last year at San Diego.
Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (2-0, 1.54) makes his third start of the year.