Field Level Media
Jul 25, 2018
Jose Bautista hit a long two-run homer in the sixth inning, and the New York Mets halted a dubious streak with a 6-4 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday afternoon at Citi Field.
The Mets won a series for the first time since sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks May 18-20 -- two days before Bautista was signed. They were 0-11-6 in their previous 17 series before Bautista contributed offensively and defensively and helped the Mets avoid matching the 1982 team record.
Bautista gave the Mets a 6-2 lead when he drove Clayton Richard's full-count fastball 429 feet off the facing of the second deck in left field
It was Bautista's sixth homer since joining the Mets and the 339th of his career. Bautista moved into a four-way tie for 99th place on the all-time list with Tino Martinez, Boog Powell and Dave Parker.
Before homering, he ended Richard's perfect-game bid by opening a four-run fifth with a walk. He also made a running catch and crashed into the right field wall to rob Freddy Galvis of a run-scoring extra-base hit for the final out of the fourth.
After Bautista's fifth-inning walk, he scored on Kevin Plawecki's single. Pinch hitter Phillip Evans added a tying RBI single, and Amed Rosario capped the rally with a two-run single following a double steal by the Mets.
Bautista's showing helped rookie Corey Oswalt (1-2) record his first career win. Oswalt was originally demoted from the rotation to make room for Jason Vargas but wound up filling in for Noah Syndergaard, who was placed on the disabled list Monday due to hand, foot and mouth disease.
Oswalt allowed two runs and three hits in five innings. Tim Peterson allowed a two-run homer to Galvis in the seventh, and Robert Gsellman recorded the final two outs of the seventh.
Anthony Swarzak tossed two scoreless innings and notched his second save.
Galvis hit a run-scoring double-play grounder and Austin Hedges hit a solo homer for the Padres, who were unable to win a series for the 11th straight time.
Richard (7-10) retired the first 12 hitters for the first time in his career but wound up allowing six runs on five hits in five-plus innings. He lost his fourth consecutive decision.
--Field Level Media