The Padres averted a sweep in grand fashion in New York Sunday, beating the Mets 7-3.
Fernando Tatis Jr. did the honors, hitting a grand slam as part of a six-run 7th inning outburst from the slumping Padres.
The scoring started with Eric Hosmer. He crossed the plate on the Mets’ third walk of the inning, to Tommy Pham, tying the game 2-2.
Reliever Jacob Barnes replaced the wild Jeurys Familia, but it got worse for the Mets, as Tatis smacked a 2-1 pitch to left center, clearing the bases.
Manny Machado homered in the next at-bat, for the Padres third of the day. Pham began the game with a lead-off home run.
“It was a great inning from the entire offense,” Tatis said.
Chris Paddack (3-5) picked up the win, while Familia (2-1) took the loss.
The Padres had been reeling, dropping nine of their last 12 games. They lost the first two games of the series, 3-2 – Mets ace Jacob deGrom beat them again – and 4-1.
“Hopefully we’re clicking … after today with a little bit of momentum,” manager Jayce Tingler said.
During the cold spell, the Friars have fallen to third in the National League West, three games behind the San Francisco Giants and a game and a half behind the second-place Los Angeles Dodgers.
The team heads to Colorado next, perhaps a good sign, as they swept the Rockies last month during their 9-0 home stand. Dinelson Lamet takes the mound when the series opens at 5:40 p.m. Monday.
The Padres return home Thursday to face the Cincinnati Reds, in what will be the first full-capacity game at Petco Park since 2019, with COVID-19 health orders set to be eased Tuesday.