Title: New York Mets Secure Sixth Consecutive Victory with 7-5 Win over San Diego Padres in Extra Innings
Date: [Current Date]
The New York Mets extended their winning streak to six games in a thrilling extra-inning showdown against the San Diego Padres. Jeff McNeil’s double in the 10th inning brought in Starling Marte, delivering the go-ahead run and sealing a 7-5 victory for the Mets. The game featured an intense matchup between two underperforming teams with high expectations heading into the season.
In the 10th inning, McNeil’s grounder off rookie Tom Cosgrove found its way just inside the line past diving first baseman Jake Cronenworth, scoring Marte, who was the automatic runner. Francisco Alvarez followed up with a single to drive in McNeil, the reigning 2022 NL batting champion. The Mets continued their offensive onslaught with a two-run single by Francisco Lindor, who had an impressive performance with three hits and three RBIs, building upon his five-hit game the previous night.
Lindor also added to the Mets’ tally with a homer off Yu Darvish in the third inning, narrowing the gap to 3-2. Daniel Vogelbach’s single off Darvish in the fifth inning tied the game at 3-3. Vogelbach also contributed an RBI single in the first inning.
The Mets had a critical opportunity to break the tie in the ninth inning, loading the bases with just one out. However, Nick Martinez induced a 1-2-3 double play from Marte to keep the game alive.
“This was a big win for us,” McNeil expressed after the game. “We fought back, battled all night, and it feels good to get this one. They’re playing well, we’re playing well. We need to keep playing good baseball and carry this momentum into the second half of the season.”
Drew Smith pitched the ninth inning for the Mets and earned the win. In the bottom of the 10th inning, Manny Machado’s two-run homer, his 13th of the season, provided an additional offensive spark for the Padres. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Mets’ late surge.
The Padres, known for their strong playoff performance last season, including eliminating the Mets in the wild-card series, have had a challenging year. Despite signing shortstop Xander Bogaerts to a lucrative $280 million, 11-year contract and Fernando Tatis Jr.’s return from suspension, the team has struggled offensively.
On the other hand, the Mets, under owner Steve Cohen, have invested heavily in their roster. However, their bullpen has been a cause for concern ever since Edwin Diaz suffered a knee injury before the season began.
With respective records of 41-46, both teams find themselves languishing in fourth place in their divisions. The Mets boast the highest payroll in baseball, estimated at around $360 million, while the Padres have the third-highest payroll at approximately $250 million.
The Padres continue to struggle in extra-inning games, dropping to 0-8 after the loss against the Mets. Prior to this game, they had just completed a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels, marking their first sweep of the season.
Looking ahead, the Mets’ David Peterson (2-6, 6.61 ERA) and the Padres’ Blake Snell (5-7, 3.03 ERA) are set to take the mound in the second game of the series on Saturday night.
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