For the second consecutive night, the relentless Mets put runners in motion and caused the Giants to forget their fundamentals. Brian Wilson cracked under the pressure in the ninth inning again, committing a throwing error that scored Gary Sheffield with the go-ahead run as the Giants lost 8-6 in front of a sellout crowd Friday at AT&T Park.

The Mets stole four bases, battered Tim Lincecum for a career high-tying 10 hits and completed a four-run comeback when David Wright hit a bases-clearing double off Merkin Valdez in the seventh inning to tie the game.

"I can't say what I want to say," said Giants catcher Bengie Molina, who was 0-for-11 throwing out base runners over two nights before he nabbed Ryan Church in the ninth. "They're fearless. If you don't hold them, if you don't pay attention to them, they'll make you pay."

It's hard to believe the Mets and Giants began this series with identical 18-15 records.

"That team is playing to win a World Series," Molina said. "They are not just playing to be in the playoffs."

Once again, Wilson was summoned to protect a tie in the ninth and couldn't do it. After Sheffield hit a leadoff single and Carlos Beltran walked, Wilson bounded off the mound to field Church's sacrifice bunt. He had plenty of time to get the force at third base, but his wide throw ticked off Pablo Sandoval's glove and rolled into left field.

Wilson didn't bother to back up home plate, instead standing motionless as Sheffield raced home. The Mets added another run on a sacrifice fly as the Giants lost their third consecutive game. They'll need to beat ace Johan Santana today and follow up with another victory Sunday to avoid their first series loss at home this season.

Wilson, who has shouldered a heavy workload thus far, isn't likely to be available today.

"We had the right guy out there last night and we had the right guy out there tonight," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He killed himself. He was his own worst enemy tonight. He needs to forget this because he's our closer."

Molina said Wilson is missing his spots while trying to throw inside. The ball is running over the plate and the Mets aren't missing.

The Giants lost despite leading 5-1 after the second inning with Lincecum on the mound. They tallied a four-run first inning against Livan Hernandez; Fred Lewis hit a solo home run in the second inning his first since Aug. 14 at Houston. Lewis had gone 182 at-bats between home runs.

The Mets don't have a home run in the series, but that hasn't impeded them.

Neither manager was around for the end. Bochy drew his first ejection of the season in the seventh inning while arguing that Sandoval checked his swing while getting hit by a pitch. Plate umpire Doug Eddings disagreed, calling Sandoval out.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel exited in the eighth after arguing balls and strikes with Eddings.

Lincecum wasn't sharp and allowed the leadoff runner to reach in five of his seven innings. That spelled trouble for a pitcher who isn't fond of using the slide step to keep runners close.

"You lose focus," Lincecum said. "You're thinking about throwing quality strikes instead. It's part of the game hopefully I'll get better at."

Lincecum's pitch count was at 114 after the first two runners reached in the seventh. Bochy went to Valdez and slammed the dugout rail when the right-hander issued a four-pitch walk to Sheffield. Wright followed with his line drive over Sandoval's glove and Sheffield, on 40-year-old legs, scored from first base without a play.

It isn't a Giants loss without a frustrating at-bat with runners in scoring position. Aaron Rowand took that prize in the eighth, grounding out to third after Randy Winn hit a one-out triple high off the right field arcade.

Contact Andrew Baggarly at abaggarly@mercurynews.com.Mets 8,Giants 6today: Mets (Johan Santana 4-2) at Giants (Randy Johnson 3-3), 1:10 p.m.TV: Chs. 2, 40. Radio: 680-AMinside Edgar Renteria (strained right hamstring) may avoid the disabled list. Page 5