Schimpf's two-homer night leads Padres past Mets
NEW YORK -- Ryan Schimpf hit two homers, including a first-inning grand slam, to spark an early power surge by the San Diego Padres, who held on for a 8-6 win over the New York Mets on Friday night at Citi Field.
The Padres (50-65) won despite being unable to reach base over the final 6 1/3 innings against four relievers.
The Mets (57-58) lost their fourth straight and fell under .500 for the first time since Apr. 17. New York has lost six of seven and is 10-20 since July 8.
Schimpf hit a two-run homer in the third. It was the second two-homer game of his rookie season.
Jabari Blash followed Schimpf's grand slam with a solo shot while Christian Bethancourt capped the Padres' scoring with a solo homer in the third.
Paul Clemens (2-2) earned the win after allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three over five innings. The Mets scored three times in the sixth against Buddy Baumann, who did not record an out, but Brad Hand, Ryan Buchter and Brandon Maurer (fifth save) combined for three no-hit innings.
Travis d'Arnaud was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in the first for the Mets while Jay Bruce had an RBI single in the fifth. Matt Reynolds and Ty Kelly each had RBI singles in the sixth while Wilmer Flores hit into a run-scoring fielder's choice.
Logan Verrett (3-8) may have lost his job in the rotation after giving up all eight runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four over 2 2/3 innings. Verrett is 0-3 with a 7.18 ERA in his last seven starts.
The Padres loaded the bases with none out in the first against Verrett before Alex Dickerson flew to shallow left. Schimpf followed with his first career grand slam and Blash homered three pitches later to give San Diego a 5-0 lead.
D'Arnaud's two-run homer in the second pulled the Mets within 5-2.
In the third, Dickerson doubled with one out before Schimpf lofted a two-run homer into the second deck in right field. One out later, Bethancourt mercifully ended Verrett's night with a homer to left-centerfield.
The Mets narrowed the gap to 8-3 in the fifth, when Curtis Granderson singled with one out, advanced to second on a groundout by T.J. Rivera and scored on Bruce's single.
NOTES: The Mets recalled RHP Seth Lugo from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned OF Michael Conforto to the same affiliate. Manager Terry Collins said Lugo provides bullpen insurance for the Mets because LHP Jonathon Niese is battling a sore knee. ... Mets RHP Zack Wheeler, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery performed in March 2015, will visit Dr. James Andrews after experiencing elbow discomfort following his first rehab start last weekend. ... Padres manager Andy Green said OF Jon Jay (broken right forearm) will remain with the team until Sunday, when he'll head back to San Diego to undergo tests that will determine if he can begin swinging a bat. Jay has been out since June 20. ... Padres RHP Tyson Ross (shoulder, ankle) threw 39 pitches in a bullpen session Wednesday and will throw in the bullpen again this weekend.