Game #123: Mets 7, Padres 3

David Wright, center, was congratulated by his teammates after hitting a three-run homer in the third inning. The homer was Wright's 10th of the season. (NYTimes.com)

Until this "afternoon" in San Diego, the last time a Met starter allowed fewer than two runs was July 5. Dillon Gee decided the team was overdue for a lights-out start.

Gee breezed through 6 2/3 innings of work and David Wright provided spark with his bat and his glove, giving the Mets the game and the series over the Padres, 7-3. It's the Mets' first ever series win at San Diego's PETCO Park.

The Good Stuff:

• Dillon Gee reminded everyone why he was an early rookie of the year candidate, back when he started 8-0, allowing 1 run on 5 hits in his 6 2/3 innings of work, walking 4 and striking out 5. It's been a long time since we saw that Gee, but a welcome sight it certainly is. He also started a Gem-worthy double play in the 3rd, reaching behind his back to stab a hard grounder and toss over to second.
• David Wright, aware of the team's offensive shortcomings last night, tripled that scoreline with one swing in the 3rd, smashing a 2-2 fastball out of PETCO's spacious confines for his 10th home run of the season. Then in the bottom of the 4th, David did his best David Blaine to save a run: with 2 down and Cameron Maybin on second, Wright made a diving stop on a Logan Forsythe groundball and faked the long throw to first, causing Maybin to overrun third, making him a lame duck for David's inning-ending tag.
• Also making a big contribution was Angel Pagan, who went 2-5 with a run and drove in 3 runs late. Willie Harris had a good night at the plate too, going 2-4 with a walk, run and RBI.
• Gee got into some trouble in the 7th and was lifted for Tim Byrdak. After issuing a walk to load the bases, Byrdak was relieved in favor of Manny Acosta, who blew a 96 mph fastball by Jason Bartlett for a clutch K to end the inning. Bobby Parnell followed with a 1-2-3 8th.

The Bad Stuff:

• Ryota Igarashi's tough outing in the 9th spoiled an otherwise great afternoon: Iggy allowed 2 earned runs, raising his ERA to an ugly 5.26.

Final Analysis:
The Mets did exactly what they were supposed to: winning a series against the last-place Padres. A sweep would have been nice, but you never assume the sweep. It's a road series win. No complaints.

The win gives the team some much, much-needed momentum; after tomorrow's day off, the next week and a half is as tough a stretch as you'll find all season: 3 games hosting the red-hot Brewers, 3 in Philly, 3 at home against the Braves. Buckle up, Mets fans.

MM

P.S. Can it be? Actual good news?? Why, yes! Jose Reyes may be ready to come off the 15-day DL on August 23rd, the day he's eligible to return and sooner than previously expected.