Game #117: Padres 3, Mets 2

This time, it was the other guys' turn to come from behind.

San Diego scored runs in the 6th, 7th, and 8th, and the Mets couldn't find a way to respond, falling to the Padres in the series finale 3-2.

The Bad Stuff:

• After picking up 15 hits last night, New York could only manage 3 this afternoon, and none after the 5th inning. They still had a fair share of baserunners, but could only convert once out of 10 tries with men in scoring position and stranded 9.
• When you only get 3 base knocks, it's hard to single out one hitter as particularly bad. But we're gonna try: Scott Hairston went 0-4 in the lead off spot. With Angel Pagan on the bench with a bad back today, who else was gonna hit there anyway? The only name that comes to mind is Willie Harris, but he hasn't performed well there this year, so why not put Hairston there? Hopefully Pagan is well by tomorrow so Terry Collins won't have to manage this kind of rocket science again.

The Good Stuff:

• Jon Niese picked up the hard-luck loss, lasting 7 2/3 innings and allowing just 3 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits, walking 2 and fanning 7.
• Lucas Duda had the biggest hit of the afternoon, a 2-run double in the 4th that scored the only two runs New York would score.
• David Wright went 1-3 with a walk and a run; with a single in the 5th, he became the franchise's all-time leader in total bases, surpassing fan favorite Ed Kranepool's old record of 2047. We're guessing David will get just a few more in his time in Flushing.

Final Analysis:
Not the way we wanted to finish the series. After two brilliant comeback victories on Monday and Tuesday, the Mets lose two they could have won against the last-place Padres. I suppose it's not all that expected, considering all the missing pieces, but you think they could have won a home series against San Diego with anyone out there.

The Mets' home cooking this year continues to taste of bad fish (don't ask): after this 3-6 homestand, the team falls to a lousy 25-32 in their supposed "friendly confines." With a 33-27 record on the road, you'd have to think these guys would still be in contention with a decent home record.

MM