The trouble started in the third — with the Mets up by a run — when Jung Hoo Lee singled to lead off the inning, stole second and reached third when Francisco Alvarez’s throw got away from Lindor at second. Lee scored on Patrick Bailey’s liner up the middle.

"He's got to be better. He knows that," manager Carlos Mendoza said when asked if Montas' role going forward was up for discussion.

The Mets have developed a reputation for being able to fix back-end rotation arms, turning them into frontline starters. They might have struck out on Frankie Montas. The right-hander had another tough start Sunday afternoon when the San Francisco Giants took seven runs off of him in only four innings,

Next up is a three-game set in Pittsburgh on the Giants’ way back west. They open that series against the Pirates — who swept them at Oracle Park last week — Monday at 3:40 p.m. with Justin Verlander (1-8, 4.53 ERA) on the mound. Pittsburgh has not named a Monday starter yet.

Rafael Devers snapped out of a slump with a homer and four RBIs in the San Francisco Giants’ 12-4 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday.

Carson Whisenhunt recorded his first career win by combining with three relievers on an eight-hitter Sunday afternoon for the visiting San Francisco Giants, who beat the New York Mets 12-4 in the rubber game of a three-game series.