San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Jordany Valdespin's two-run double
highlighted a four-run second, while rookie Jeremy Hefner won his first game
since May 29 as the New York Mets downed the San Diego Padres, 6-2, in the
middle test of a three-game set.
Mike Baxter set a franchise record by drawing five walks in a nine-inning
game. Vince Coleman also walked five times on Aug. 10, 1992 against the
Pittsburgh Pirates, but needed 16 innings to do it.
Daniel Murphy went 4-for-4 with two runs scored for the Mets, who have won
five of their last seven games.
Hefner (2-4) surrendered a run on five hits over six frames and Frank
Francisco induced John Baker into a game-ending double play to notch his 19th
save of the season.
Struggling with his control, Edinson Volquez (7-8) lasted just 1 2/3 innings,
allowing four runs on two hits and four walks for San Diego, which has dropped
six of its last eight contests.
The Mets took advantage of Volquez's command issues in the four-run second.
Ike Davis singled to begin the frame and Murphy and Baxter worked back-to-back
walks to load the bases. After Andres Torres struck out, a free pass to Josh
Thole plated Davis and after Hefner fanned, Ruben Tejada walked to score
Murphy. Valdespin then doubled to deep right, bringing home Baxter and Thole
for a 4-0 lead.
Alexi Amarista's RBI single in the fourth got the Padres on the board, but the
Mets got the run back in the seventh on Thole's RBI groundout and added
another in the eighth on Davis' two-out run-scoring single to right, making it
a 6-1 game.
Chase Headley cracked a leadoff homer in the ninth off Bobby Parnell to
account for the final margin.
Game Notes
The Mets improved to 6-4 on their season-high 11-game road trip...Tejada had
two hits to extend his hitting streak to 10 games...The Mets were 3-for-15
with runners in scoring position, while San Diego finished 1-for-4.
The Sports Network