Wright's Walk-Off Blast Propels Mets Past Padres
POSTED: 2:22 am CDT August 8,
2008
Flushing, NY -- (Sports Network) - David Wright's two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning pushed the New York Mets over San Diego, 5-3, in the finale of a three-game set from Shea Stadium.Nick Evans knocked in a pair of runs and Dan Murphy added an RBI for the Mets, who took two of three in the series. "I tried to simplify my approach and shortened my swing," Wright said of his home run. "You have to look for specific pitches and locations and I was sitting on it and got lucky." Aaron Heilman (2-6) recorded the last two outs in the top of the ninth to nab the win. Starter Johan Santana allowed four hits and two runs over seven-plus innings, fanning seven with three walks. New York sits in third place in the NL East, a half-game behind second place Florida and two games behind first place Philadelphia. Chase Headley and Jody Gerut homered for the Padres, who have dropped four of six. Heath Bell (6-5) took the loss after allowing Wright's home run. Josh Banks allowed nine hits and three runs while striking out four and walking one in his start over five-plus frames. "It was a curve ball low and away," Bell said. "It was a good piece of hitting. He stuck his bat out there and got a hold of it. I'm pretty upset I helped their bullpen get a win. I have to go out there and be better than that." Scott Schoeneweis surrendered a one-out game-tying homer to Gerut in the top of the ninth, but the Mets rallied for the win in their turn at the plate. Bell surrendered a leadoff single by Endy Chavez, but retired Jose Reyes on a pop up and Argenis Reyes on a fly out to left. Wright stepped in and launched the game-winning blast over the wall in left field. It was the 25-year-old's first game-ending home run at any level. Headley's one-out solo homer to left in the second gave the Padres an early 1-0 lead. In the third, Jose Reyes dumped a one-out triple down the line in right but Banks held his ground and retired the next two batters. However, the Mets took the lead with two runs in the fourth on RBI singles from Murphy and Evans. An Evans sacrifice fly in the sixth put New York ahead by two, but the Padres loaded the bases with one out in the eighth. Adrian Gonzalez pushed a base hit past Jose Reyes at short to bring San Diego within 3-2, but Kevin Kouzmanoff grounded into an inning-ending double play. Game Notes Heilman won for the first time since July 24, a span of seven appearances that included three losses...Despite the loss, the Padres have won five of the seven meetings between the two clubs...Schoeneweis was saddled with his third blown save of the season...Mets catcher Ramon Castro left the game prior to the bottom of the sixth inning with a sore right ankle.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.






