Severino Outduels Cease as Padres Drop Opener of Key Series Against Mets

Severino Outduels Cease as Padres Drop Opener of Key Series Against Mets
New York Mets pitcher Luis Severino (R) talks with catcher Francisco Alvarez as they return to the dugout after the third inning against the San Diego Padres in San Diego on Aug. 22, 2024. Gregory Bull/AP Photo
The Associated Press
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SAN DIEGO—Luis Severino outdueled Dylan Cease, and the New York Mets broke open a close game late to beat the San Diego Padres 8–3 on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series between National League playoff contenders.

Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil had three hits apiece and Mark Vientos drove in three runs for the Mets, who improved to 4–0 against the Padres this season and have won six of their past nine games overall. The Mets pounded out 17 hits.

The Padres came into the day tied with division rival Arizona for the top wild-card spot, while the Mets were two games behind the Atlanta Braves for the final spot.

Coupled with Wednesday’s 11–4 loss to Minnesota, the Padres have dropped consecutive games for the first time since the All-Star break. They are 22–8 in that span.

The Padres eliminated the 101-win Mets in the wild-card round in 2022 en route to an appearance in the National League Championship Series.

For New York, this was the opener of a 10-game road trip that includes three games against the Diamondbacks.

“Winning the first game is huge for us,” Severino said. “Hopefully, we continue to do that. We showed today we have a good team that can hit. Cease is a great pitcher, and we went out there and got a couple hits against him and knocked him down before seven innings. If we can do that from now on, we’re going to be good.”

The Mets blew open a 3–1 game by scoring five runs in the ninth inning against Logan Gillaspie, who was recalled earlier in the day from El Paso, Texas, after knuckleballer Matt Waldron was optioned to the same Triple-A club.

Severino (9–6) held San Diego to one run on five hits in five innings, and struck out five. He was coming off his second career shutout, a 4–0 win against Miami, and kept the Padres in check through four innings while being given a 3–0 lead.

He allowed three of his four walks in the fifth, along with a hit and a stolen base, but surrendered just one run. San Diego loaded the bases with no outs, on two walks and a single, before Mason McCoy scored when Jake Cronenworth grounded into a double play. Manny Machado walked and stole second to give the Padres runners on second and third before Xander Bogaerts grounded out.

“We were good. Just a little trouble in the fifth inning there, walking the first guy there, the No. 9 hitter,“ Severino said. ”As a pitcher I can’t do that. I have to attack that guy. Bases loaded, no outs, big situation, give up one run, glad we got out of that inning.”

Severino said he felt “pretty good” after going nine innings in his previous start.

“I feel like everything was there,“ he said. ”Fastball command was good. Had a good cutter. Didn’t feel tired. I knew my leash was going to be a little bit shorter because of how many pitches I threw last time. But I feel pretty good.”

Cease (12–10), who threw his first career no-hitter at Washington on July 25, allowed three runs on a season-high nine hits through 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked one.

Padres pitcher Dylan Cease agonizes after giving up a fourth-inning RBI single to the Mets' Jeff McNeil in San Diego on Aug. 22, 2024. (Gregory Bull/AP Photo)
Padres pitcher Dylan Cease agonizes after giving up a fourth-inning RBI single to the Mets' Jeff McNeil in San Diego on Aug. 22, 2024. Gregory Bull/AP Photo

Cease fell behind 1–0 after two batters, when Francisco Lindor and Vientos hit consecutive doubles. The Mets made it 3–0 in the fourth after Jesse Winker singled and Jose Iglesias doubled with one out. Winker scored on a passed ball and Iglesias came in on a McNeil infield single.

The Padres allowed 17-plus hits in consecutive games at Petco Park for the first time since April 8–9, 2006.

Trainer’s Room

Mets: Manager Carlos Mendoza said rookie reliever Dedniel Nunez is expected to be activated from the injured list on Friday. He might have been activated Thursday but his Wednesday flight to New York following a rehab appearance the night before in Syracuse, N.Y., was delayed and he wasn’t able to fly to San Diego with the team. Mendoza said the training staff wanted to check him out in person and see him play catch.
Padres: Right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. did some sprints at about 70 percent and is expected to do live hitting on the field in the next few days, Manager Mike Shildt said. The Padres have a “looser timetable,” and Tatis is progressing in his comeback from a stress reaction in his right thighbone that put him on the injured list on June 22.

Up Next

Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (5–3, 4.19 earned-run average) and Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (2–4, 4.97) are Friday night’s scheduled starters.
By Bernie Wilson