NEW YORK — Justin Upton homered and drove in three runs and Yonder Alonso also connected as the San Diego Padres beat the New York Mets 7-3 on Wednesday night despite three long balls from Lucas Duda.
Duda hit the first of his home runs leading off the second to end Tyson Ross’ streak of starts without allowing one at 16, a Padres record. Ross (7-8) hadn’t given up a homer since April 28, a span of 100 innings.
Duda also connected in the sixth off Kevin Quackenbush and in the ninth off Marcos Mateo. Duda has six homers in the last four games after going through an extended slump.
As rumours spread throughout Citi Field that the Mets have acquired outfielder Carlos Gomez from Milwaukee in a trade that would possibly include infielder Wilmer Flores, fans gave the rookie shortstop a standing ovation when he came to bat in the seventh inning. Flores wiped away tears when he warmed up at shortstop before the eighth.
Matt Kemp, Yangervis Solarte and Will Venable all drove in early runs as San Diego chased Bartolo Colon (9-10) after only 2 1-3 innings, his shortest start since 2012.
Solarte doubled twice and matched a career high with four hits as the Padres won for the seventh time in 11 games since the All-Star break.
The Mets had their three-game winning streak snapped. They fell two games behind Washington in the NL East.
Mentioned along with several teammates in numerous rumours ahead of Friday’s non-waiver trade deadline, Upton had a sacrifice fly in the first inning after the first three Padres singled off Colon for a 2-0 lead. Venable and Solarte had RBI hits in the second, and Upton and Alonso led off the third with consecutive homers to make it 6-1.
Upton added a run-scoring single in the sixth.
After an age-defying start to the season, Colon has seriously cooled off. A week after his 42nd birthday on May 24, Colon beat the Phillies to improve to 8-3. He’s only won once more, on June 12, and has lost six straight decisions. He yielded six runs and 10 hits on Wednesday.
Ross allowed a run and two hits. He walked four and struck out five.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: C Tim Federowicz (right knee surgery) is nearing the end of his rehab assignment, but manager Pat Murphy said he didn’t know what the plan was for the catcher because so much was up in the air with Friday’s non-waiver trade deadline looming. Federowicz is out of minor league options.
Mets: Travis d’Arnaud went 1 for 4 and caught nine innings Tuesday night in a rehab start for Double-A Binghamton. He’s 5 for 15 in four games with Binghamton. Manager Terry Collins expects d’Arnaud back this weekend for a series against Washington.
UP NEXT
Padres: RHP Andrew Cashner (4-10) is set to start while trade rumours swirl ahead of the trade deadline. He has gone at least seven innings in three of his last four outings.
Mets: LHP Jonathon Niese left his start Friday after just three innings to fly home to be with his wife after the birth of his son. Niese gave up six runs and watched the delivery on FaceTime. His 2.04 ERA in five starts against the Padres is his best against any opponent.
