NEW YORK (AP) -- Michael Cuddyer singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the New York Mets beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4 Thursday night to prevent a three-game sweep.Curtis Granderson scored twice and drove in a run to help the Mets win on a 91-degree night when chants of "Let's go Giants!" rang out at Citi Field. New York beat the defending World Series champions for only the second time in the past 11 meetings, rebounding from a pair of humbling losses to start the series.San Francisco rookie Chris Heston pitched a no-hitter in the opener, and Mets ace Matt Harvey was hit hard again the following night. So when New York finally pulled this one out, no doubt it was a relief. 
Sergio Romo (0-3) hit Granderson in the back on an 0-2 pitch with one out in the ninth. Granderson advanced to second on Andrew Susac's passed ball and third on Juan Lagares' groundout before Lucas Duda was intentionally walked.Cuddyer, who had a go-ahead double in the fifth, stroked a sharp single into center field and raised his arm as he headed for first base, just ahead of the swarm of teammates that chased him down to celebrate.Jeurys Familia (2-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.Jonathon Niese entered 0-4 with a 7.96 ERA in his last five starts but gave the Mets a second consecutive encouraging outing.The left-hander retired 12 in a row before substitute third baseman Eric Campbell committed a two-out error in the sixth. Brandon Crawford followed with his ninth homer, a long drive into the Giants' bullpen in right-center that gave San Francisco a 4-3 lead.Niese, who went seven innings, has yielded 11 unearned runs in 12 starts this season. New York has made 13 errors with Niese on the mound, most for any National League team behind one pitcher.Hunter Strickland gave up three straight Mets hits to the start the seventh, including a leadoff double by pinch-hitter Darrell Ceciliani and Granderson's tying single.Tim Lincecum held the Mets hitless until Travis d'Arnaud blooped an RBI double with two outs in the fourth. Niese opened the fifth with a double to deep center and scored on Duda's sacrifice fly. Cuddyer put the Mets up 3-2 with a two-out RBI double.Looking to win his seventh straight decision against New York, Lincecum was lifted after 4 2-3 innings.The first four batters reached safely against Niese, and San Francisco scored on Buster Posey's run-scoring single and Justin Maxwell's double-play grounder.
Sergio Romo (0-3) hit Granderson in the back on an 0-2 pitch with one out in the ninth. Granderson advanced to second on Andrew Susac's passed ball and third on Juan Lagares' groundout before Lucas Duda was intentionally walked.Cuddyer, who had a go-ahead double in the fifth, stroked a sharp single into center field and raised his arm as he headed for first base, just ahead of the swarm of teammates that chased him down to celebrate.Jeurys Familia (2-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.Jonathon Niese entered 0-4 with a 7.96 ERA in his last five starts but gave the Mets a second consecutive encouraging outing.The left-hander retired 12 in a row before substitute third baseman Eric Campbell committed a two-out error in the sixth. Brandon Crawford followed with his ninth homer, a long drive into the Giants' bullpen in right-center that gave San Francisco a 4-3 lead.Niese, who went seven innings, has yielded 11 unearned runs in 12 starts this season. New York has made 13 errors with Niese on the mound, most for any National League team behind one pitcher.Hunter Strickland gave up three straight Mets hits to the start the seventh, including a leadoff double by pinch-hitter Darrell Ceciliani and Granderson's tying single.Tim Lincecum held the Mets hitless until Travis d'Arnaud blooped an RBI double with two outs in the fourth. Niese opened the fifth with a double to deep center and scored on Duda's sacrifice fly. Cuddyer put the Mets up 3-2 with a two-out RBI double.Looking to win his seventh straight decision against New York, Lincecum was lifted after 4 2-3 innings.The first four batters reached safely against Niese, and San Francisco scored on Buster Posey's run-scoring single and Justin Maxwell's double-play grounder.
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