Jul 29, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Luis Arraez (4) celebrates with center fielder Jackson Merrill (3) after defeating the New York Mets at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images
San Diego, California – The bad boys on the Padres delivered a statement win Tuesday night at Petco Park, routing the first-place New York Mets 7-1 behind a five-run seventh inning capped by Manny Machado’s three-run homer.
But the victory was overshadowed—at least momentarily—by a concerning scene for Mets fans as star slugger Juan Soto exited in the fourth inning after fouling a ball off his left foot. The team later announced a foot contusion, but Soto was clearly in pain, needing a trainer’s attention before finishing the at-bat with a groundout to Jake Cronenworth, who made a diving stop to end the frame.
For the Padres, it was the kind of win that can energize a clubhouse. Machado’s 20th home run of the season came off the second-deck facade in left field, crushing a 2-2 pitch from Chris Devenski with two outs in the seventh and blowing the game wide open. Earlier in the inning, Elías Díaz broke it open with a two-run double off José Buttó (3-2), who took the loss.
San Diego trailed briefly after New York tied the game 1-1 in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Starling Marte. But Jackson Merrill reclaimed the lead in the sixth with a chopper down the right field line that bounced over Pete Alonso’s glove and rolled into the corner for an RBI triple, scoring Luis Arraez from first. Merrill also plated the game’s first run with an RBI single in the opening frame.
The Mets mustered just four hits in the loss—two of them off Padres rookie Ryan Bergert, who loaded the bases in the fifth without recording an out. Jeremiah Estrada came on in relief and delivered a gutsy performance, striking out Francisco Lindor before giving up Marte’s sac fly and retiring Alonso to escape with minimal damage.
Former Padre Sean Manaea started for New York and was solid, allowing two runs on six hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked none in his return to San Diego. Wandy Peralta (5-1) earned the win in relief for the Padres with a scoreless inning.
The Padres have now taken the first two games of the series from the surging Mets, who came into San Diego riding a seven-game win streak. With Machado heating up and Merrill continuing to deliver in big moments, the Friars look to keep momentum going in Wednesday’s finale.
