Coming off a series win in Arizona with a depleted bullpen and a resting Pete Alonso, the Mets crawled back but couldn’t quite catch up with the Padres, who took the series opener 4-3 Thursday night in San Diego.
Fernando Tatís Jr. returned from injury and retook the major league home run lead with his two-run shot in the third inning. The ball bounced out of center fielder Mason Williams’s glove and over the wall to open the scoring.
Tatís also scored what would be the game-winning run advancing home on a Taijuan Walker wild pitch that included a violent collision at the plate.