Game Recap
San Diego Padres lost to New York Mets 2-4 in a tightly contested series finale on Wednesday afternoon at Citi Field. The victory allowed the Mets to claim the three-game set and continued their recent surge, improving their record to 11-4 over their last 15 contests. While the Padres threatened late, the New York pitching staff and timely defensive plays ensured the lead held firm through the final frame.
The contest began as a concentrated pitching duel between Mets starter Robert Stock and Padres right-hander Michael King. Both rotations were dominant early, holding their respective opponents hitless through the first three innings. Stock, a former Padre, navigated a high pitch count to go 4.1 innings while allowing just one earned run. King was equally impressive for much of the afternoon, finishing his day with 6.2 innings pitched, four strikeouts, and only four hits allowed, though he was ultimately saddled with a hard-luck loss.
New York finally broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Bo Bichette drew a two-out walk, rookie outfielder Carson Benge launched an opposite-field two-run home run to left field. The blast was Benge’s 15th of the season and provided the Mets with an early 2-0 advantage. San Diego responded in the fifth when Xander Bogaerts led off with a double, followed by an RBI double from Fernando Tatis Jr. that cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Mets’ defense and bullpen took center stage in the late innings to preserve the narrow lead. In the seventh, Tatis Jr. attempted to spark another rally, but the Mets’ defensive alignment remained sharp, stifling potential base runners. In the bottom of the eighth, New York added two critical insurance runs. A fielding error by Sung-Mun Song allowed A.J. Ewing to cross the plate, and Jared Young followed with a clutch two-out RBI single to extend the lead to 4-1.
San Diego refused to go quietly in the ninth inning against Mets closer Kodai Senga. A single by Luis Rengifo and a walk to Luis Campusano set the stage for pinch-hitter Gavin Sheets, who roped an RBI single to right field to make it 4-2. With runners on the corners and the tying run on base, Senga induced a game-ending 6-3 double play from Austin Hays to secure his fourth save of the season and seal the victory for New York.
Key Performances
Carson Benge was the offensive catalyst for the Mets, finishing the day with a two-run home run and two hits. On the mound, reliever Nathan Lavender earned his first career win after tossing a scoreless inning with two strikeouts. For the Padres, Michael King delivered a quality start despite the loss, while Fernando Tatis Jr. provided the bulk of the San Diego offense with a double and an RBI, maintaining his career-long success at Citi Field.
What's Next
The San Diego Padres will head back home to begin a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins starting Friday. The Mets will look to carry their momentum into their next series as they continue their late-season push at home.
