The Padres had the kind of setup that usually begs for a series win, with a strong outing from Michael King and a chance to take advantage of a Mets pitching staff that wasn’t exactly working from the top shelf. Instead, San Diego’s bats went quiet at the wrong time, and a 4-2 loss in the rubber game left them empty-handed.
King did his part for most of the afternoon. He worked into the seventh, allowed just two runs on four hits, and finished with a pair of walks and four strikeouts. The problem was that the Padres never gave him enough support to turn that into a win.
New York broke through in the fourth when Bo Bichette drew a walk off King and Carson Benge followed with a two-run homer to put the Mets in front, 2-0. San Diego answered in the fifth with back-to-back doubles from Xander Bogaerts and Fernando Tatis Jr. to trim the deficit to 2-1, but that was about as close as the Padres would get for a long stretch.
After that, both bullpens settled in and started stacking up zeros. The Padres still had a shot to steal the game late, but the eighth inning turned into the kind of mess that can sink a close contest.
A walk to A.J. Ewing and a single by Francisco Lindor set things up, then a throwing error by shortstop Sun-Mung Song let Bichette reach and brought Ewing home.
Jared Young followed with a single that scored Bichette and stretched the Mets lead to 4-1.
San Diego did scratch out one more run in the ninth. Luis Rengifo singled, Luis Campusano walked, and pinch-hitter Gavin Sheets brought one home with a single. That made it 4-2 and gave the Padres a flicker of hope, but Kodai Senga closed the door by getting Austin Hays to bounce into a 4-4-3 double play with Marcus Semien turning it to end the game.
The Padres finished with just five hits and never found the big swing they needed. For a club trying to keep building on recent strong play and stay in the mix for the wild card, this was the kind of loss that sticks.
In Other News...
Padres Suddenly Have A Bogaerts Concern They Can't Ignore
The Padres left New York with more than a series loss to sort through after dropping the finale to the Mets, 4-2, and seeing Xander Bogaerts leave the game with hamstring cramping. Bogaerts has been a steady presence for San Diego across 121 games this season, even as his bat has lagged behind his standards with a .220/.320/.329 line, and his value on the infield has made him one of the clubs more important everyday pieces.
Craig Stammen downplayed the issue as heat-related cramping, but the Padres still have to monitor a shortstop situation that can turn awkward quickly if Bogaerts needs a few days. Sun-Mung Song stepped in at shortstop during the game, and if Bogaerts is unavailable beyond the immediate aftermath, Song would be in line for more run there while San Diego waits to see how quickly its regular can bounce back. [Read more 🡒]
Tatis Jr. Just Showed How Much He Can Change Padres Games
Fernando Tatis Jr. was the difference again in a game the Padres needed, driving in three runs and turning in a performance that reminded everyone how quickly he can tilt things in San Diegos favor. He launched two home runs and kept making his presence felt in right field, where his range and instincts continued to matter as much as his bat in the win over the Mets.
His most eye-catching moment came on a defensive catch that robbed New York of a grand slam, the kind of play that changes the tone of an inning and the energy in a stadium. For a Padres team that has leaned on Tatis to be a game-breaker, this was another example of how his athleticism can shape both sides of the scoreboard in a single night. [Read more 🡒]
Former Padres Lefty Is Getting Another Chance With A Contender
Nestor Cortes is getting another shot with a contender after the Philadelphia Phillies reached an agreement with the left-handed pitcher on a Major League contract. For Padres fans, it is a familiar name resurfacing in a new spot, with Cortes having previously worn both a San Diego uniform and a New York Yankees uniform before landing back on the market.
The next question is where the Phillies will use him once he is ready to contribute, since his role has not been finalized. Coming off left-arm surgery, Cortes could help out of the bullpen or work his way into the starting rotation, giving Philadelphia a flexible arm as it sorts through its pitching mix. [Read more 🡒]