Mets 3, Giants 0
SAN FRANCISCO -- Catcher Johnny Monell broke a scoreless tie with a two-run double during a three-run ninth inning, lifting the New York Mets to a 3-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series.
Left-hander Jonathon Niese pitched eight scoreless innings and combined with closer Jeurys Familia on a three-hit shutout as the Mets won for the third time in four games on their six-game Western swing.
The loss was the Giants' seventh straight and dropped the defending World Series champions to 42-42, the first time they haven't been over .500 since May 13.
New York won the game against the Giants bullpen after starter Chris Heston, facing the Mets for the first time since no-hitting them on June 9, was pulled one out into the eighth inning of a scoreless game.
First baseman Michael Cuddyer led off the Mets' ninth against the third Giants pitcher, right-hander Sergio Romo (0-4), with a single. Cuddyer went to third on a double to right field by left fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who was promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas earlier in the day.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy went to his closer, right-hander Santiago Casilla, at that point. However, Monell, who entered the game batting .182, worked the count full before lining a double to right field, scoring Cuddyer and Nieuwenhuis.
Casilla struck out pinch hitter Lucas Duda, but center fielder Juan Lagares, batting ninth behind Niese in the order, grounded an RBI single to center that plated Monell to make it 3-0.
Familia retired the middle of the Giants' lineup in order in the ninth, earning his 23rd save in 25 tries.
Niese (4-8) allowed just three hits -- all singles -- and two walks in his sixth consecutive quality start. He struck out four.
The Giants did manage to load the bases against Niese with star catcher Buster Posey at the plate with two outs in the sixth inning. Posey, who entered the game riding an 11-game hitting streak, grounded out, ending the threat. He finished the game 0-for-4.
Second baseman Joaquin Arias had two of the Giants' three hits on a night when Bochy rested his All-Star middle infield of second baseman Joe Panik and Brandon Crawford.
Heston's bid to no-hit the Mets for a second time in the same season lasted all of two batters. Hitting second in the top of the first inning, Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada ended that thought before many in the sellout crowd found their seats, lining a single to left field.
Heston pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings, allowing just three hits. He walked four and struck out two.
Cuddyer had two of the Mets' seven hits.
NOTES: San Francisco LHP Madison Bumgarner was one of 13 pitchers named to the National League All-Star team, creating the possibility of an All-Giants starting battery. C Buster Posey earned his start in the fan vote. ... Giants 2B Joe Panik and SS Brandon Crawford were picked by their own manager, Bruce Bochy, to be All-Star reserves. ... The Mets will be represented in Cincinnati by RHP Jacob deGrom and possibly RHP Jeurys Familia, who is part of the five-player Final Vote that will determine the NL squad's last All-Star on Friday. ... Mets RHP Jenrry Mejia completed his 80-game PED suspension Monday and is expected to rejoin the team Tuesday. ... Before the game, the Mets promoted OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis from Triple-A Las Vegas and demoted OF Darrell Ceciliani. Nieuwenhuis, who batted just .100 in major league stints with the Mets and Los Angeles Angels earlier this season, was immediately thrust into the starting lineup in left field.