San Diego, CA – Nick Hundley stroked a two-run homer and Will Venable had four hits as the San Diego Padres eclipsed the New York Mets, 8-2, on Saturday at Petco Park.
Jedd Gyorko added a late three-run homer and Alexi Amarista, Chris Denorfia and Jesus Guzman supplied an RBI apiece to back starter Edinson Volquez (9-10), who limited New York to two runs on seven hits over five innings.
"It was good to see a bunch of guys get a couple hits," said Padres manager Bud Black.
Mets starter Jenrry Mejia was forced to exit in the fourth inning after experiencing elbow discomfort in his pitching arm. The right-hander had Tommy John surgery back in 2011.
David Aardsma (2-2) gave up four runs over two innings of relief to absorb the loss.
Travis d'Arnaud, the main piece New York received in the R.A. Dickey trade this past offseason, made his major league debut to fill in for regular catcher John Buck, who was placed on paternity leave. He went hitless, but did walk twice.
"It's indescribable, man," said d'Darnaud about his first major league game. "It's one of those feelings that everyone dreams they can have and I can't even describe it. Unfortunately we got the loss, so we're going to try and come out tomorrow and win the series."
Hundley, in his first game back since leaving the club for the birth of his daughter, snapped a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning after Mejia's elbow flared up on a pitch to Logan Forsythe, forcing him to exit.
Forsythe greeted Aardsma with a single and Hundley followed two batters later with a two-run homer. Amarista then drove in Venable, who had doubled, with a two-out base hit to give the Padres a 4-1 lead.
New York got a run back in the fifth on Ike Davis' run-scoring single, but stranded runners on second and third when d'Arnaud grounded out to end the inning.
The Padres responded in the home portion, with pinch-hitter Guzman knocking in Forsythe from second with a two-out hit before getting thrown out trying to stretch his single into a double.
Dale Thayer relieved Volquez and the Padres bullpen protected the 5-2 lead, with Thayer, Nick Vincent, Luke Gregerson and Huston Street each tossing a scoreless frame. Gyorko's homer in the eighth inning created a six-run spread.
Venable scored the game's first run in the first inning, reaching with a single before swiping second and later scoring on Denorfia's base hit.
Eric Young then used his speed in the third to even the score at 1-1. He reached on a bunt single, stole second, then came home to score on Daniel Murphy's shot through the right side.
Game Notes
Venable extended his hitting streak to 14 games ... Volquez entered the day with an 0-5 record and a 7.76 ERA in six prior starts against the Mets ... Young had two hits and scored both New York runs ... The Mets were 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
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