Game Recap: Mets vs. Padres
SAN DIEGO — Austin Warren has been a key player for the Mets’ bullpen, showcasing his versatility and effectiveness. However, he faced a significant challenge on Saturday night. In the seventh inning, with the Mets up by a run, Warren initially secured two quick outs.
But then came a soft single, and shortly after, Warren allowed a two-run homer to Freddie Firmin, leading to a 3-2 loss against the Padres.
After a couple of wins powered by their offense, the Mets reverted to their usual lack of scoring. Now, they are in a spot where they need a win on Sunday to even their record before heading out on a road trip.
Warren’s hiccup was unexpected for a bullpen that had started the day with a solid 3.19 ERA, ranking third in the National League and fifth in the entire MLB.
This right-handed pitcher had maintained a 1.33 ERA, taking on multiple roles from opener to long reliever and more high-pressure situations. Meanwhile, Nolan McLean managed to bounce back from a rising pitch count, with the Mets’ pitchers collectively allowing just one earned run over six innings on three hits and three walks, along with five strikeouts.
McLean had recently been sidelined from pitching in three straight games, failing to complete six innings in his last appearance, but managed to lower his ERA to 3.98 before exiting after 101 pitches.
Griffin Canning, a former Mets pitcher who had surgery for a torn Achilles tendon last June, showed resilience against his old team. He tossed five innings, letting up three hits, two walks, and one earned run.
In the second inning, Brett Batty managed to give the Mets a brief lead with an RBI single, making it 1-0. Following a walk from Marcus Semien and a single from AJ Ewing, Batty notched his 25th RBI of the season, which was particularly nice considering he had been struggling with a .188 average on this road trip.
Fernando Tatis Jr. tied the score at 1-1 with his third RBI, capitalizing on a situation initiated by Son Sung-moon’s walk in the first inning. After trailing, Tatis hit a ground ball that deflected off second base, catching the Mets off guard.
McLean managed to avoid additional trouble after a walk to Ty France in the first by striking out Manny Machado, but finished that inning with a pitch count of 62, which wasn’t too bad.
In the fourth inning, Semien singled but was caught trying to steal second. Ewing later walked, but Canning struck out Mark Vientos to wrap up the inning.
As the game progressed, Song kicked off the fifth inning with a single and ended up at third after a sacrifice bunt and an infield hit by Tatis. The Padres attempted a double steal later on, but Lewis Torrence advanced to second, tagging Song out in the rundown.
Semien’s seventh homer of the season gave the Mets a 2-1 lead in the seventh. Despite a struggling day, going 0-for-14, Semien managed to get on base three times that evening.
After Warren secured two outs in the seventh, a single by Song paved the way for Firmin, who sent a sinking pitch over the left field fence.
In the eighth inning, Carson Benge and Bo Bichette each managed singles with one out, but Juan Soto’s hard-hit ball was snatched by Song. In the ninth inning, with two outs, Ewing walked against the firing Mason Miller, but Vientos struck out, sealing the game for the Padres.
