Padres 7, Mets 2
SAN DIEGO -- Behind Ian Kennedy's pitching and a 14-hit attack, the San Diego Padres beat the New York Mets 7-2 on Tuesday night.
Kennedy (3-5), a loser in his last four starts, limited the Mets to two runs on six hits. He struck out eight and walked two as the Padres took the second contest of the three-game series after losing the opener.
Three different Padres had two RBIs as the Mets' Noah Syndergaard was chased after four innings. He did strike out 10, but allowed seven runs on 10 hits.
Center fielder Will Venable, catcher Derek Norris and shortstop Alexi Amarista each had a pair of RBIs. Norris' came on his fourth-inning, two-run homer.
Kennedy's outing was critical after nearly a month of struggles. With starter Brandon Morrow expected to come off the disabled list next week, Kennedy's rotation spot was in jeopardy. But he won for the first time since May 6 when defeating the San Francisco Giants.
The Mets pulled to within 7-2 on shortstop Wilmer Flores' one-out single in the sixth. Left fielder Michael Cuddyer was aboard on a double.
Four Padres relievers worked the final three innings.
Second baseman Cory Spangenberg and first baseman Yonder Alonso had three hits for the Padres.
The Padres were shut out the final four innings by the Mets' bullpen, which used four pitchers.
Norris' two-run homer in the fourth, his fifth of the year, put the Padres ahead 7-1 as Syndergaard continued to struggle. Norris' blast drove in center fielder Will Venable, after he singled.
Spangenberg's run-scoring triple in the third increased the Padres' cushion to 5-1. Spangenberg chased in Alonso, after he collected his second single.
The Padres seized the lead in the second inning, going ahead 4-1.
Alonso, fresh off the disabled list, singled and third baseman Will Middlebrooks did likewise. Spangenberg's bunt single loaded the bases.
Amarista's line drive up the middle ricocheted off Syndergaard's glove and rolled into shallow right-center field, allowing two runs to score. After Kennedy's sacrifice bunt, Venable laced a two-run triple just fair down the right-field line.
The Mets struck in the first inning when Cuddyer singled in third baseman Ruben Tejada; Tejada reached on a one-out single.
NOTES: Padres 1B Yonder Alonso (shoulder) was activated from the disabled list and inserted into the lineup. ... CF Wil Myers (wrist) could take batting practice on Wednesday. ... RHP Cory Mazzoni was optioned to Triple-A El Paso. ... Mets 3B David Wright said he is confident he will return this season from his back injury, he just doesn't know when. He's been on the DL since April 15. ... 1B Lucas Duda returned to the lineup after being hit in the knee with a pitch on Sunday.