NEW YORK — Left fielder Michael Cuddyer’s RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning Thursday night lifted the New York Mets to a 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field.
The Mets (32-29) salvaged the finale of the three-game series to ensure they remain no more than a half-game back of the first-place Washington Nationals in the NL East. The Giants (34-27) missed a chance to move within a half-game of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
With one out in the ninth, right-hander Sergio Romo (0-3) plunked right fielder Curtis Granderson. A passed ball allowed Granderson to advance to second. Granderson went to third on a groundout to second by centerfielder Juan Lagares.
After first baseman Lucas Duda was intentionally walked, Cuddyer hit Romo’s next pitch up the middle for his first walk-off hit as a member of the Mets. It was the second RBI of the game for Cuddyer, who also had a run-scoring double in the fifth.
Right-hander Jeurys Familia (2-0) earned the win with a scoreless ninth.
Catcher Travis d’Arnaud had two hits, including an RBI single in the fourth inning that was the first hit for the Mets, who were no-hit Tuesday by rookie right-hander Chris Heston. Granderson had two hits, including a game-tying RBI single in the seventh. Duda (sacrifice fly) and Cuddyer produced runs in the fifth.
Shortstop Brandon Crawford hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth for the Giants. Right fielder Nori Aoki went 2-for-4 and finished 6-for-14 in the series.
Aoki singled leading off the first and scored the Giants’ first run on a single by first baseman Buster Posey. San Francisco extended the lead to 2-0 when second baseman Joe Panik scored on a double play grounder by right fielder Justin Maxwell.
Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out five over 4 2/3 innings.
Mets left-hander Jonathon Niese allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out four over seven innings. He allowed the first four batters to reach in the first inning but retired 16 of the next 18 batters, including 12 in a row between the second and sixth.
NOTES: The Mets activated RHP Bobby Parnell and INF Dilson Herrera from the disabled list to replace RHP Dillon Gee, who was placed on the bereavement list after the death of his grandmother, and INF Ruben Tejada, who was placed on the paternity leave list after his daughter was born Thursday morning. Parnell hasn’t pitched in the majors since March 31, 2014, nine days before he underwent Tommy John surgery. Herrera has been out since May 15 with a fractured tip of his right middle finger. … Giants RF Hunter Pence (left wrist tendinitis) missed his eighth straight game and likely will be placed on the disabled list Friday when San Francisco returns home. … Giants RHP Jake Peavy (back strain) was scheduled to start Thursday for Triple-A Sacramento.