Mets Lose to Padres 7-3 after Bullpen Blows Lead In Top Of The Seventh

Mets LHP Joey Lucchesi (Photo Credits to Brad Penner-USA Today) The New York Mets lost to the San Diego Padres 7-3 this afternoon at Citi Field to lose their last game of the series and dropped their record to 32-25. LHP Joey Lucchesi got off to a rocky start in the top of the first inning giving up a solo homer to LF Tommy Phan, but was helped out by defense by getting a double play to end the inning. Lucchesi settled down after that by getting another double play in the top of the second, a 1-2-3 top of the third inning and two strikeouts in the top of the fourth. He finished up strong by striking out the side in the top of the fifth and was then taken out. His final line was five innings, four hits, one run, one walk and six strikeouts. RHPP Jeurys Familia came in next in the top of the sixth and gave up back-to-back singles to Phan and SS Fernando Tatis Jr, but then came back to get 3B Manny Machado to ground into a double play and struck out RF Wil Myers to end the inning. Familia stayed in for the top of the seventh and walked 1B Eric Hosmer to lead off the inning, gave up a single to pinch-hitter Jake Croneworth and after catcher Webster Rivas hit a sacrifice bunt to move Hosmer and Croneworth over to second and third, Familia struck out pinch-hitter Trent Grisham for the second out. Familia was not able to get out of the inning and he walked pinch-hitter Jurickson Profar to load the bases and then he walked Phan which brought in the tying run and was then taken out with the based loaded and two outs. RHP Jacob Barnes came on to try to keep the game tied, but was not able to do so after he gave up a gram slam to Tatis Jr and a solo homer to the following hitter Machado. RHP Drew Smith followed in the top of the eighth and threw a scoreless inning and also threw a scoreless top of the ninth inning. The offense was held scoreless for the first four innings against Padres starter RHP Chris Paddack until the bottom of the fifth after CF Mason Willams singled and then 2B Jose Peraza followed with a two-run homer. In the bottom of the eighth, 1B Pete Alonso was hit by a pitch in the head but remained in the game. Later in the inning, LF Dominic Smith beat out a double play grounder and advanced to second on a fielder's choice. Catcher Tomas Nido then reached on an error which allowed Smith to score. The Mets next game is tomorrow night at home against the Chicago Cubs at 7:10 p.m.