Ramos hits tying double in seventh then Lee follows with sacrifice fly, Giants beat Padres 6-5

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Heliot Ramos hit a tying two-run double in the seventh then Jung Hoo Lee followed with a sacrifice fly that put San Francisco ahead, and the Giants rallied to beat the San Diego Padres 6-5 on Wednesday night.

San Francisco ended a stretch of 16 straight games scoring four or fewer runs.

Gavin Sheets hit a two-run triple in the first then singled in two more runs in the fifth for San Diego, which had a pair of 10-inning wins to start the four-game series.

Fernando Tatis Jr. singled to start the ninth against Ryan Walker then right fielder Daniel Johnson ran down Luis Arráez's fly to save an extra-base hit. Manny Machado followed with a single and Randy Rodríguez relieved and recorded the final two outs for his first career save.

Matt Chapman hit a two-run homer in the sixth off right-hander Nick Pivetta, who struck out five over six innings and was tagged for five runs on six hits.

Pivetta gave way to Jason Adam (5-2) after walking Willy Adames to start the seventh then allowing Daniel Johnson's single. After Patrick Bailey struck out, Tyler Fitzgerald singled to load the bases for Ramos.

Sean Hjelle (1-0) pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief for the win in his season debut after being recalled from the minors Tuesday.

Sheets’ second hit chased Giants lefty Kyle Harrison, who was then checked by an athletic trainer in the dugout after being hit in the pitching elbow with a comebacker. X-rays were negative and Harrison was relieved there's “no damage.”

He is expected to make at least one more start before Justin Verlander returns from the injured list and rejoins the rotation.

The Giants' 16 consecutive games with four or fewer runs ranked as their second longest single-season streak since moving to San Francisco in 1958. They did so in 19 straight games in 1965.

RHP Dylan Cease (1-4, 4.66 ERA) pitches the series finale for San Diego opposite Giants LHP Robbie Ray (7-1, 2.43).

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San Diego Padres left fielder Brandon Lockridge is unable to catch a double hit by San Francisco Giants' Jung Hoo Lee during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Diego Padres pitcher Nick Pivetta, center, hands the ball over to manager Mike Shildt as he exits during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Diego Padres left fielder Brandon Lockridge (28) is unable to catch a two-run home run hit by San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman, right, celebrate with third base coach Matt Williams (9) after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman, right, celebrate with Jung Hoo Lee after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lionel Messi didn't have much time to try to become the first to score in seven consecutive World Cup games.

Argentina's superstar did it anyway as a second-half substitute.

Messi made it seven straight while extending the all-time men's World Cup scoring record with his 19th goal in Argentina's 3-1 victory over Jordan in a group stage finale on Saturday night.

In his first match since turning 39 three days earlier, Messi scored on a free kick after being taken down just outside the penalty box in the 80th minute. The low kick barely above the grass surface split two Jordan defenders into the left corner of the net.

It was his 72nd career goal on a free kick, including his 12th for Argentina. Messi now has 123 international goals — second all-time to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 145 — in 202 appearances.

Messi had been one of only three players to score in six consecutive World Cup games along with France striker Just Fontaine and Brazil great Jairzinho.

Messi also scored on a free kick against Nigeria in the 2014 World Cup and is among six players since records are available dating to 1966 who scored two free kick goals in the World Cup. He joined Pelé, Rivellino, Téofilo Cubillas, Bernard Genghini and David Beckham.

“I am very happy for him, for the moment he is having,” Giovani Lo Celso said in translated remarks after becoming the first Argentine other than Messi to score in this tournament, also on a free kick in the 19th minute. “The truth is that seeing him every day excites, excites and infects a lot. So obviously seeing him like that for us is very important.”

Messi didn't start because Argentina had already clinched first place in Group J, and the game was further meaningless because Jordan was already eliminated from the knockout stage.

Nevertheless, the decidedly pro-Argentina crowd of 70,649 at the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys was eager to see him.

Fans started chanting Messi's name as soon as the second half started, and cheered loudly when he came off the bench merely to go through warmups.

The roar was louder when he stepped onto the field in the 60th minute, replacing Lautaro Martinez, who scored on a penalty kick in the first half.

For all the accomplishments of the eight-time winner of the Ballon d’Or as the best player in Europe, Messi has never won the golden boot as the top scorer in each World Cup. This is his sixth.

Messi now has six goals in this tournament, two clear of Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Júnior and Erling Haaland.

Messi had been dealing with a minor hamstring injury with Inter Miami that slowed him in the lead-up to the World Cup.

The knockout round for Argentina begins Friday in South Florida, and in this expanded 48-team tournament that would be the first of five matches in 17 days if La Albiceleste makes it to the final on July 19.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) celebrates scoring his side's 3rd goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Argentina in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) celebrates scoring his side's 3rd goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Argentina in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) warms up on the sidelines during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Argentina in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)

Argentina's Lautaro Martinez (22) is substituted by Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Argentina in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)

Argentina's Leandro Paredes, left, Lionel Messi, center, and Alexis Mac Allister train for the World Cup soccer tournament Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Argentina's Lionel Messi trains for the World Cup soccer tournament Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)