SAN FRANCISCO (Interstat) — A pitchers’ duel between aces dissolved into a decisive late-inning rally Sunday afternoon, as the New York Mets broke open a tight game with four runs in the eighth to defeat the San Francisco Giants 5-2 at Oracle Park.

The victory secured a series win for the Mets, who took three of four in the weekend set, and pushed their early-season record to 6-4. The Giants, meanwhile, fell to a disappointing 3-7, having lost seven of their last eight games after a promising start.

For seven innings, the game was a tense, low-scoring affair dominated by the starting pitchers. The Mets struck first in the second inning against Giants right-hander Logan Webb. Luis Robert Jr. and Jared Young led off with back-to-back singles, and Mark Vientos followed with an RBI line drive to left field to plate Robert. A double play stifled a chance for more, but it gave New York a 1-0 lead.

That slim margin held thanks to a strong outing from Mets right-hander Kodai Senga, who was named the top star of the game. Senga, building on a solid first start, navigated through the Giants’ lineup with precision, scattering five hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked one, consistently working out of minimal trouble. The Giants grounded into two double plays behind him, helping to neutralize early threats.

Webb was equally effective for San Francisco, matching Senga nearly pitch for pitch. After the second-inning run, he settled in, allowing just that one earned run over seven strong innings. He surrendered seven hits, did not issue a walk and struck out three, keeping his team within reach.

The Giants finally broke through against Senga in the bottom of the sixth. Patrick Bailey led off with a single, and after two quick outs, Matt Chapman laced a double to left field to score Bailey. Rafael Devers followed with a single to center, bringing Chapman home to tie the game at 2-2 and chase Senga from the game.

Huascar Brazobán entered in relief and got the final out of the sixth to strand Devers. He then worked a perfect seventh inning, earning the win to move to 1-0.

The game turned decisively in the top of the eighth against Giants reliever Keaton Winn, who took the loss and fell to 0-1. Jorge Polanco, who finished 2-for-4, led off with a double. After a pitching change brought in JT Brubaker, Luis Robert Jr. singled, putting runners on the corners. Pinch-hitter Luis Torrens then delivered the critical blow, drilling a two-run double down the right-field line to score both runners and give the Mets a 3-2 lead.

The rally continued as Mark Vientos reached on an infield single, with Torrens scoring and Vientos advancing to second on a throwing error by Chapman. Marcus Semien then capped the outburst with an RBI double, pushing the lead to 5-2.

The four-run inning transformed the complexion of the game, shifting it from a nail-biter to a comfortable margin for the Mets’ bullpen. Luke Weaver pitched a scoreless eighth, and Devin Williams, despite allowing two singles in the ninth, closed the door for his second save of the season. Williams struck out Jung Hoo Lee on a foul tip to end the game with the potential tying run on deck.

The most important sequence of the game was unquestionably the Mets’ four-run eighth inning. After six innings of offensive frustration following their early score, and with the game newly tied, the Mets strung together four hits—including the key two-run double from Torrens—and capitalized on a defensive mistake to break the game open against the Giants’ bullpen. This outburst shifted all momentum and provided the necessary cushion to secure the series victory.

Offensively, the Mets racked up 13 hits, led by Luis Robert Jr., who went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. The Giants managed seven hits, with Chapman contributing two hits, including his RBI double.

The game, played in 2 hours and 37 minutes before an evening crowd of 37,079, defied pregame projections. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 5-3 Giants victory, and its ELO system gave San Francisco a 50.1% probability to win. The Giants had also been installed as a 1.5-run favorite. The total of seven runs did go over the posted over/under line of 7.5.

The Mets now return home to Citi Field to begin a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday. The Giants will continue their homestand, welcoming the Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game set beginning Monday.