SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Francisco Lindor hit a pair of two-run homers and the New York Mets avoided a three-game series sweep on Wednesday with an 8-2 win over the San Francisco Giants.
Lindor went 4 for 5 with four RBIs and recorded the 16th multi-homer game of his career.
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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Francisco Lindor hit a pair of two-run homers and the New York Mets avoided a three-game series sweep on Wednesday with an 8-2 win over the San Francisco Giants.
San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald, right, is congratulated by third base coach Matt Williams (9) after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman throws to first base on a single hit by New York Mets' Francisco Lindor during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
New York Mets' Tyrone Taylor, right, hits a two-run double in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
New York Mets' Francisco Lindor, left, celebrates with Harrison Bader after the Mets defeated the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
New York Mets' Francisco Lindor, right, celebrates after hitting a two-run home run that also scored Brandon Nimmo (9) against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
New York Mets' Francisco Lindor watches his two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
“Yesterday it seemed like I wasn’t on any pitch. Today it seemed like I was on most of the pitches,” Lindor said. "It feels really good, especially when you win."
Tyrone Taylor homered and added a two-run double, and Jeff McNeil had an RBI single as New York snapped a three-game skid.
“(Taylor) is going to be a huge part of this team moving forward,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “I’m just happy that he’s having great results because he’s such a great guy, but he’s also a really good player.”
Tyler Fitzgerald homered for San Francisco, which was seeking its first three-game winning streak of the season.
Mets starter Sean Manaea struggled with his command, but battled through 4 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts and four walks. The 32-year-old left-hander allowed four hits, all singles.
Manaea, who pitched for the Giants last season, threw 101 pitches and was lifted with two outs in the fifth inning, one out shy of qualifying for a win.
“It might’ve been one of the best, worst games I’ve ever had in my life,” Manaea joked. “From a pure pitching standpoint, I’m just falling behind guys, walking guys, but also getting outs when I needed to.”
Reed Garrett pitched the next two innings, allowing his first earned run of the season on Fitzgerald’s homer in the seventh. Garrett (4-0) struck out four and earned his fourth win, tied for the most in the majors.
Scheduled Giants starter Blake Snell was scratched and placed on the 15-day injured list with a left adductor strain.
Ryan Walker opened in Snell's place and San Francisco used seven pitchers.
After a scoreless first inning, Lindor hit a two-run homer off Giants reliever Sean Hjelle in the second, and Taylor launched a solo shot in the third.
Hjelle (0-1) permitted three runs and three hits in two innings, with a walk and two strikeouts.
“It’s just a couple of pitches,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “Gave up a couple of hits and a walk, but homers tend to do some damage.”
New York tacked on three runs in the fifth on Taylor’s two-run double and McNeil’s RBI single.
Lindor hit another two-run homer in the ninth off Mitch White, who was acquired by San Francisco from the Blue Jays for cash considerations on Saturday.
San Francisco's LaMonte Wade Jr. scored on a throwing error by Pete Alonso in the bottom of the ninth.
The Mets improved to 13-6 in their last 19 games after starting the season 0-5.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mets: Veteran slugger J.D. Martinez (lower back tightness) played in his second game at Triple-A Syracuse and is expected to make his Mets debut Friday at home against St. Louis.
Giants: Thairo Estrada (left hamstring tightness) was replaced at second base before the start of the sixth inning. “He wanted to stay in the game,” Melvin said. “(We) tried to be proactive, but we’ll see how he feels tomorrow. He’s going to come in and get some treatment. Hopefully he’s OK.”
ROSTER MOVE
The Giants recalled RHP Landen Roupp from Triple-A Sacramento to take Snell’s spot on the active roster. Roupp allowed three runs in 1 1/3 innings.
UP NEXT
Mets: RHP José Buttó (0-0, 1.65 ERA) starts Friday night as New York opens a three-game home series against the Cardinals. St. Louis counters with RHP Miles Mikolas (1-3, 6.49).
Giants: LHP Kyle Harrison (2-1, 5.00) opens a three-game home series against the Pirates on Friday night. Pittsburgh has not announced a starter.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
San Francisco Giants' Jung Hoo Lee reacts after avoiding a pitch against the New York Mets during the eigh inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald, right, is congratulated by third base coach Matt Williams (9) after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman throws to first base on a single hit by New York Mets' Francisco Lindor during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
New York Mets' Tyrone Taylor, right, hits a two-run double in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
New York Mets' Francisco Lindor, left, celebrates with Harrison Bader after the Mets defeated the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
New York Mets' Francisco Lindor, right, celebrates after hitting a two-run home run that also scored Brandon Nimmo (9) against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
New York Mets' Francisco Lindor watches his two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet won't deny being one of the NHL's final eight teams still alive means a lot.
An all-Canadian showdown against the Edmonton Oilers in the second round?
Even better.
“We know the next series will be tough," Tocchet said Friday night after his Canucks advanced by downing Nashville 1-0 in Game 6.
The Jack Adams finalist for NHL coach of the year took the Canucks from a team that missed the postseason a year ago by finishing 11th in the Western Conference to placing third in the West this season. They won the Pacific Division with 109 points, winning all four games with Edmonton.
The Canucks survived a low-shooting series with Nashville, with each of the final four games decided by one goal.
Pius Suter ended a scoreless tie with his second goal this postseason with 1:39 left for the latest winning goal in a Canucks' series-clinching game. That topped Daniel Sedin's goal with 2:03 left in Game 6 of the 2010 conference quarterfinal.
Even then, the Canucks had to kill a penalty in the final 33.9 seconds as Nashville pulled goalie Juuse Saros for an extra attacker.
Canucks captain Quinn Hughes, a Norris Trophy finalist, said it's a great feeling.
Vancouver had not won a playoff series outside the pandemic bubble in 2020 since their run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011. The Canucks also clinched a series against the Predators in Game 6 in Nashville during that run.
“We stuck to what we wanted to do the whole game," Hughes said. "We didn’t crack. I thought we played really good team defense. I thought (rookie goalie Arturs Silovs) played amazing. We knew we were going to have our looks. Brock made a great play, Pius great finish.”
The Canucks now are in the second round after missing the postseason a year ago for the fifth time in franchise history. They also advanced in 2020, 2009, 2007 and 1974.
This will be their first postseason series against the Oilers since 1992, and Edmonton won that second-round series in six games. The Oilers have been resting since ousting the Los Angeles Kings in five games on Wednesday night.
“I have thought about it for more than two seconds to be honest with you,” Canucks forward J.T. Miller said of facing the Oilers.
Tocchet will have to decide which goaltender to start. Vezina Trophy finalist Thatcher Demko has started skating from an injury that sidelined him after a Game 1 win, and Casey DeSmith has been healthy enough to back up Silovs the past two games.
All three goalies won at least one game in the first round, just the seventh time in NHL history a team won a playoff series where at least three different goalies started a game and the third in 50 years. Philadelphia did it in 2011, and Detroit did it in 1988.
Silovs made 28 saves to become the 14th rookie goalie in NHL history to finish off a series with a shutout and just the fifth in 30 years. At 23 years and 42 days, Silovs also became the youngest goalie in team history with a playoff shutout. Demko had been the only other goalie to do that before turning 25.
“For him to step in as a young kid like that, step into playoff games, big games and play the way he did, it was awesome,” defenseman Tyler Myers said of Silovs. “It was great to see.”
Vancouver will have to produce more offense after having a combined 92 shots through the first five games. That was the fewest to start a playoff series through five games since 1960, second only Washington who had 90 in the 1998 Eastern Conference semifinals.
“Hopefully, some of those goals will go in for us in the next series,” Tocchet said.
AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
An ice worker skates off the ice with a pair of catfish before the start of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series between the Nashville Predators and the Vancouver Canucks, Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ian Cole (82) passes the puck away from Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) and Vancouver Canucks center Pius Suter (24) get into a scuffle during the first period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) catches a puck against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1-0. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Nashville Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro (57) and goaltender Juuse Saros (74) block a shot on goal as Vancouver Canucks center Dakota Joshua (81) leaps over the puck during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1-0. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks center Pius Suter (24) passes the puck past Nashville Predators center Colton Sissons (10) during the first period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) pulls Nashville Predators center Mark Jankowski, left, down to the ice during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) blocks a shot on goal by Nashville Predators center Mark Jankowski, left, during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) blocks a shot on goal by Nashville Predators left wing Jason Zucker (16) during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks center Pius Suter (24) celebrates his goal against the Nashville Predators with teammates during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1- 0. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks center Pius Suter (24) is congratulated after his goal by teammates during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1-0. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks players celebrate the team's 1-0 win against the Nashville Predators in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won the series four games to two. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
The Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks shake hands after Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1-0 winning the series four games to two. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
The Canucks ready for all-Canadian second-round after eliminating Nashville
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) congratulates center Pius Suter (24) after his goal against the Nashville Predators during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1-0 winning the series four games to two. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
The Canucks ready for all-Canadian second-round after eliminating Nashville
