NEW YORK — The trip from the team hotel near Central Park to the front gate of Citi Field takes about 45 minutes, with one subway swap at Grand Central and 16 stops once you leave Manhattan. You could have walked out of the hotel after the top of the third inning Friday and just about arrived at the park in time for the top of the fourth.
Of course, by then it would be time to turn back around. This game was over.
The Giants have rarely had an inning like the bottom of the third against the Mets, a 12-run debacle that did just about all the damage in a 13-1 loss. The Mets were at the plate for 42 minutes, but for Jake Peavy it had to feel like much longer. Fifteen Mets came to the plate in the 66-pitch inning, with the first eight reaching and scoring.
The inning that would become one of the worst innings in franchise history began ominously, with back-to-back walks to the top of New York’s order. A Michael Conforto double and Yoenis Cespedes single loosened the wheels, and Peavy was pulled after another walk and another single. Mike Broadway entered and immediately gave up a two-run double.
Another walk and three singles loaded the bases for Cespedes, who got a hanging slider on the first pitch and lined a grand slam over the wall in left. When Cespedes touched home, he had a franchise-record six RBI in the inning. The Mets had a franchise-record 12 runs in the inning. The Giants had just one out.
You have to go back to May 7, 1997, when the Giants gave up 13 runs in the sixth inning of a loss to the Expos, to find a frame that ugly.
There would be no comeback.
Starting pitching report: If they haven’t already, the Giants will soon reach a point where they have to have a serious conversation about Peavy’s spot. Peavy got just six outs Friday, allowing six earned on four hits and five walks. He has an 8.61 ERA and 2.00 WHIP through five starts. More concerning: Opposing hitters are batting .382 against him.
Bullpen report: Broadway was in danger of not even getting out of the third, which would have been a disaster for a bullpen without a true long reliever. He ended up going three, giving up six runs on five hits and a walk.
At the plate: Angel Pagan hit a solo homer. It was not enough.
In the field: Bruce Bochy pulled Buster Posey after the third. By that point, Posey had already caught 105 pitches.
Attendance: The Mets announced a crowd of 39,764 human beings who mostly left after the third.
Up next: There’s no place to go but up, even with Jacob deGrom on the mound for the Mets.
