San Francisco @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2013 ) San Francisco 4, NY Mets 5

The New York Mets pulled off a stunning comeback in the middle contest of the series and now look to win the three-game set when they host the San Francisco Giants on Thursday afternoon. New York scored four ninth-inning runs for a 5-4 victory on Wednesday, with Josh Satin delivering the decisive two-run, walk-off single against Giants closer Sergio Romo. It was only the third time in 59 games that San Francisco lost when leading after eight innings.

Satin had a career-best three RBIs as the Mets put together a startling comeback after being shut down by San Francisco’s Matt Cain most of the night. “If there’s anything that typifies what we’re trying to do here, it was that ninth inning,” New York manager Terry Collins said. “When you’re playing the world champions, down by three, Matt Cain is mowing you down, it might be easy to say to yourself, ‘We don’t belong here.’” The loss was only San Francisco’s third in 10 games.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (12-9, 2.83 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jonathon Niese (7-7, 3.88)

Bumgarner snapped a seven-start winless streak by beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last outing. He gave up two runs and five hits in six innings and has allowed four runs in 18 frames over his last three turns. Bumgarner is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two career starts against New York.

Niese has won four of his last five decisions after beating the Miami Marlins in his last turn. He has pitched six or more innings in six of his last seven outings. Niese is 1-1 with a 3.10 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against San Francisco.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said Romo will be given Thursday off after back-to-back taxing 25-pitch relief efforts.

2. Mets SS Ruben Tejada is done for the season after breaking his right leg in a ninth-inning collision with LF Andrew Brown.

3. Giants OF Hunter Pence is 3-for-24 against Niese.

PREDICTION: Mets 6, Giants 4