Mets Beat Padres 7-5 Behind Four Run Tenth

Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez and RF Starling Marte (Photo Credits to Orlando Ramirez-USA Today Sports)

The New York Mets beat the San Diego Padres 7-5 tonight at Petco Park for their sixth consecutive win and improved their record to 42-46.

In the top of first, CF Brandon Nimmo led off with a walk and then LF Tommy Pham followed with a single.

Two batters later, 1B Pete Alonso was hit by a pitch to load the bases and then DH Daniel Vogelbach reached on an infield hit which brought home a run.

RF Starling Marte then grounded into a double play which ended the scoring threat.

After a scoreless top of the second, SS Francisco Lindor hit a solo homer with two outs in the top of the third.

In the top of the fifth, Lindor walked with one out and stole second.

Two batters later, Vogelbach came through with another RBI single to tie the game.

The Met offense did not do much for the next four innings and wasted a scoring opportunity in the top of the ninth after Marte grounded into another double play with the based loaded, but came through un the top of the tenth.

2B Jeff McNeil led off the tenth with a RBI double and then catcher Francisco Alvarez followed with a RBI single.

DH Mark Canha then grounded out to the catcher and Nimmo flew out to right.

Pham was then hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch which also advanced Alvarez to third.

Lindor came up next and broke the game open with a two-run single.

RHP Justin Verlander got off to a tough start in the bottom of the first after he gave up a RBI double to 3B Manny Machado and then  was let down by his defense after 3B Luis Guillorme made an error to allow another to score.

Verlander then gave up a RBI double to CF Trent Grisham in the bottom of the second and then loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third and got catcher Gary Sanchez to ground into a double play.

Verlander settled down after that with scoreless innings in the bottom of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings and was then taken out.

His final line was six innings, five hits, three runs (two earned), three walks and two strikeouts.

LHP Brooks Raley came in next and got the first two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

RHP Adam Ottavino followed with 1.1 scoreless innings.

RHP Drew Smith threw a scoreless bottom of the ninth and picked up his fourth win.

RHP David Robertson came on in the bottom of the tenth and gave up a two-run home to Machado, but was able to get the last three outs to close it out.

The Mets next game is tomorrow night, Saturday, July 9 at the Padres at 10:10 p.m.