The Giants were in the thick of things in the crowded NL Wild Card race, but they opened the second half of the season on an extreme cold stretch and quickly things changed. The dagger was a three-game sweep at home against the Mets.

A surreal scene unfolded in the visiting clubhouse Wednesday at Petco Park, moments after the Mets’ 5-0 loss to the Padres. As players milled around the clubhouse showering and dressing, some made their way over to reliever José Buttó,