Padres 8, Mets 2
SAN DIEGO - Nick Hundley returned from a two-day stint on paternity leave and homered with the go-ahead runs as the San Diego Padres snapped a three-game skid with an 8-2 romp over the New York Mets before 36,974 fans at Petco Park on Saturday night.
Jedd Gyorko also homered for the Padres (55-68), who had dropped eight of their last 10 games before Saturday's win. They had lost four of five to the Mets (56-65).
Will Venable tied a career high with four hits. He also scored three runs and stole a base.
Edinson Volquez allowed two runs on seven hits with five strikouts and two walks in five innings. Volquez (9-10) beat the Mets for the first time in seven career starts. He also ended his two-game losing streak.
Dale Thayer, Nick Vincent, Luke Gregerson and Huston Street each pitched an inning of scoreless relief for San Diego.
Mets starter Jenrry Mejia walked off the mound after throwing two pitches in the fourth inning. Mejia experienced discomfort in his right elbow was the official line from club officials. His official pitching line: one run on four hits with five strikeouts and a walk in three-plus innings.
Mejia was relieved by David Aardsma (2-2). That didn't go well for the Mets.
The Padres immediately took advantage of Mejia's departure, scoring three runs in the fourth off Aardsma. Hundley drove a 3-2 pitch into the seat in left off the reliever for a two-run home and a 3-1 Padres' lead with two outs in the inning. Alexi Amarista's single to center scored Will Venable to give the Padres a three-run cushion.
Ike Davis' RBI single drove in Eric Young, Jr. with two outs in the fifth to slice the lead in half.
In the bottom of the inning, Jesus Guzman delivered a base hit to left, scoring Logan Forsythe for a 5-2 advantage.
The Padres scored first. Chris Denorfia had an RBI single to right, bringing home Venable, with two outs in the first for a 1-0 lead.
The Mets tied it in the third when Daniel Murphy drove in Young with a single to right.
NOTES: Mets C Travis d'Arnaud was promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas and made his major league debut on Saturday. D'Arnaud replaces John Buck, who went on paternity leave Friday. D'Arnaud, the centerpiece of the Mets' trade of R.A. Dickey to Toronto during the off-season, also is scheduled to start Sunday, when he will catch All-Star RHP Matt Harvey against the Padres. ... Venable extended his career-high hitting streak to 14 games with an infield single in the first. ... Mets 3B Wilmer Flores started for the first time since Monday, when he twisted his right ankle in a loss to the Dodgers. ... Padres 3B Chase Headley, who was hitting .195 with no RBIs in his last 10 games, didn't start. Logan Forsythe got the nod at third. ... The Padres reinstated Hundley from the paternity leave list Saturday and optioned C Chris Robinson to Triple-A Tucson.
