New York Mets Power Past San Diego Padres 8-3 with Four Homers in Key NL Wild Card Showdown

Tuesday, September 16th, 2025

New York Mets Power Past San Diego Padres 8-3 With Explosive First Inning

The New York Mets delivered a commanding 8-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night, fueled by a five-run first inning and a barrage of home runs. This win marks the first time in two weeks that the Mets have claimed back-to-back victories.

Mets Strike Early and Often

Brett Baty put the finishing touch on a thunderous opening frame with a two-run homer, capping a five-run first inning for New York. The outburst also featured an RBI single from Brandon Nimmo and a two-run double by Jeff McNeil off Padres starter Michael King.

The Mets kept the offense rolling throughout the night, with Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Cedric Mullins each launching home runs. This offensive resurgence propelled the Mets to a 4-9 record in the month, as they followed an eight-game losing streak with their second straight victory.

Playoff Race Implications

The Mets began the night one and a half games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks in a tightly contested four-team race for the final National League Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, the Padres entered holding the second wild-card position, four games ahead of New York, and just two games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

Padres Answer With Power But Fall Short

San Diego's offense showed flashes of power with home runs from Jackson Merrill, Jake Cronenworth, and Freddy Fermin. However, the five-run deficit from the first inning proved too steep to overcome in the series opener between NL playoff contenders.

Pitching Highlights

Sean Manaea (2-3), working in relief behind starter Clay Holmes, stepped up for the Mets with one run allowed over five innings to earn the win. Holmes, finishing his first full season as a starter, surrendered homers to Merrill and Cronenworth over four innings.

Padres starter Michael King (4-2) struggled in his third start since returning from injury, surrendering a career-high eight runs and 10 hits in just three innings. He also matched a career-worst by allowing four home runs.

Key Moments and Stats

Brett Baty's 416-foot home run was only his second in the last 23 games. Pete Alonso's 35th homer and Juan Soto's 40th make them the first Mets teammates to each hit at least 35 home runs in a season since Carlos Beltrán and Carlos Delgado in 2006. The Mets' five-run explosion in the first was notable, as they had scored five or fewer runs in each of their previous 11 games.

Looking Ahead

The series continues on Wednesday night, with Mets left-hander David Peterson (9-5, 3.77 ERA) set to face Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta (13-5, 2.73 ERA).

In summary

The New York Mets' dynamic offense, powered by home runs from Baty, Lindor, Alonso, and Mullins, paced an impressive 8-3 win against the San Diego Padres. Early scoring set the tone, with standout performances both at the plate and on the mound. The win boosts the Mets' playoff hopes, as they continue battling in a tight NL Wild Card race, while the Padres look to regroup in the remainder of this three-game series.

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