SAN FRANCISCO — — In his first game back from the injured list, Joc Pederson immediately gave the San Francisco Giants a boost.
The two-time All-Star recorded an RBI single in the first inning and scored the tiebreaker from first base on Mike Jastrzemski’s one-out double in the eighth, sending San Francisco to a 5-4 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday.
“Against a good team like the Mets, you win a couple games in a row to end the series, it certainly gives you a chance to carry that momentum into the next series,” Giants manager Gates Kapler said.
Pederson missed nine games with inflammation in his right wrist, and San Francisco went 2-7 in his absence.
He started the winning rally with one out against Drew Smith (1-1). Jastrzemski followed with a shot to right-center, and a sliding Pederson beat the relay, rolling as he scored.
“Yaz came up with a huge hit and put it in the gap,” Pederson said. “I knew their performance had been good throughout the series, so (you) have to take advantage of the opportunity we have. It was a good send off by (third base coach Mark Hallberg).”
Thairo Estrada hit his fourth home run for the Giants, who won back-to-back games for the first time this season to snap a four-game streak. San Francisco entered with the third-lowest winning percentage in the National League.
Touted rookie Francisco Alvarez hit his second major league home run and first this year, marking the first extra-base hit by a Mets catcher this season.
New York went 7-3 on its trip to the West Coast.
Scott Alexander (2-0) pitched a perfect eighth and Camilo Doval struck out his first two batters in a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save.
The Giants took a 4-3 lead after rookie Brett Wisely’s first career RBI in the fourth with one out against New York starter Tyler Magill.
Megill, winless in his last two starts after starting the season 3-0, allowed four runs and six hits in four innings.
Alvarez’s home run off Tyler Rogers with two outs in the sixth tied the game at 4.
New York scored twice in the fourth on back-to-back sacrifice flies. Giants right fielder Michael Conforto dropped the first on an error, sending Daniel Vogelbach to third base. He came home on Brandon Nimmo’s fly.
Ross Stripling was uneven in his return to San Francisco’s rotation after making three appearances out of the bullpen. The right-hander, signed as a free agent in the offseason, lasted 3 1/3 innings and allowed three runs and six hits.
“Overall, I thought it was a step in the right direction,” Stripling said. “It’s a challenging line-up. We’ve obviously seen what they’ve done this series, so it’s a good test. I really thought I was in command of most of my pitches and I was further ahead than I have been in previous outings.”
Francisco Lindor hit an RBI double for the Mets in the third.
TRAINING ROOM
Mets: RHP Justin Verlander (low grade strain in his upper back) threw 43 pitches in three innings of live batting practice with good results, manager Buck Showalter said. Verlander is scheduled to begin minor league rehab on Friday. … C Omar Narváez (left calf strain) is progressing slowly and has been squatting and catching machine balls in recent days.
Giants: OF Heliot Ramos was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento to open a roster spot for Pederson.
NEXT
Mets: After an off day on Monday, New York opens a seven-game homestand against the Nationals and Braves. Showalter had not announced a starter for Tuesday night.
Giants: RHP Alex Cobb (0-1, 2.79 ERA) starts the first of a four-game home series with St. Louis on Monday. Cobb has made it past the fifth inning just once in four starts this season.
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