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 It was who he drove it in against.
D'Arnaud's two-out single in the top of the ninth off San Diego
Padres reliever Joaquin Benoit snapped a 4-4 tie and gave the
surging Mets a 5-4 win -- their fourth straight victory and ninth in
their last 11 games.
But the fact that right-hander Benoit was pitching the ninth for the
Padres was as big a story as D'Arnaud's game-winning hit.
During the game, the Padres traded All-Star closer Huston Street and
minor league closer Trevor Gott to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
for four minor league prospects -- Triple-A second baseman Taylor
Lindsey, Double-A relief pitcher R.J. Alvarez, Class A shortstop
Jose Rondon and Class A starting pitcher Elliott Morris.
"This was a big move," said A.J. Hinch, one of three interim general
managers of the Padres. "Changes happen. We are happy to add the
talent we have."
Street, who represented the Padres in the All-Star Game earlier this
week as a late addition to the National League team, was 1-0 with a
1.09 ERA and 24 saves in 25 chances for the Padres this season.
"If I was going to be traded, Anaheim was one of the places I wanted
to go," Street said after the game. "But I love this place. I'd come
back. Three of the best years of my life were as a Padre."
Street knew something was up as early as the second inning Friday.
Then he got a call in the bullpen during the game from Padres
manager Bud Black telling Street he probably wouldn't be working
Friday. Benoit got the call in the ninth, which was Street's
inning."
Right fielder Curtis Granderson opened the ninth by drawing a walk
from Benoit and moved to third on a pair of infield outs. Benoit
then walked first baseman Lucas Duda to pitch to d'Arnaud, who drove
home Granderson with a sharp, opposite-field single grounded through
the right side on a full-count pitch.
"I just tried to put a good swing on it," said d'Arnaud, who also
singled home Granderson in the Mets' three-run first. "Fortunately,
it found a gap."
D'Arnaud had the second three-hit game of his career in the same
ballpark where he made his Major League debut last Aug. 17. "That
was my first thought all day today," said d'Arnaud.
Right-handed reliever Jeurys Familia (2-3) was credited with the win
while Benoit (3-2) suffered the loss. Right-hander Jenrry Mejia
picked up his 11th save for the Mets.
The Padres scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth against Mets
right-hander Bartolo Colon to end a 25-inning scoreless streak and
tie the game.
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A double steal by center fielder Will Venable and first baseman Jake
Goebbert set up back-to-back, run-scoring singles by second baseman
Chris Nelson (who was purchased from Triple-A El Paso earlier in the
day) and shortstop Alexi Amarista. Third baseman Chase Headley's
two-out single scored Nelson and Amarista.
The Mets struck for three runs in the first against Padres
right-handed starter Ian Kennedy and added a fourth run in the
third.
Granderson opened the game with a single to center. But Kennedy
retired the next two hitters and was one strike away from getting
out of the first when he hit Duda on the foot with a pitch. D'Arnaud
singled home the first run and center fielder Juan Lagares hit a
two-run single.
Duda doubled in the third and scored on Kirk Nieuwenhuis's ground
out to second.
Both Colon and Kennedy allowed four runs in five innings. Colon, who
retired the first eight Padres he faced and had allowed only one hit
when Venable led off the fifth with a single, gave up five hits and
a walk with six strikeouts. Kennedy allowed six hits and three walks
with four strikeouts.
NOTES: The Mets, who went 8-2 going into the break, have not had a
winning record after the All-Star break since going 38-29 in 2008.
They were 33-38 in the second half last year and 28-48 after the
All-Star break in 2012. ... Padres 2B Jedd Gyorko (out since June 4
with plantar fasciitis in his left foot) and RHP Nick Vincent (out
since June 12 with shoulder fatigue) began rehab assignments with
Triple-A El Paso Friday. ... RHP Andrew Cashner (out since June 21
with right shoulder soreness) will start a throwing program
Saturday. ... The Mets 26 homers over the last 25 games of the first
half were the most in the National League.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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