SAN DIEGO (AP) - Manuel Margot stunned even his own teammates with a home run robbery in the sixth.
No such surprise when Hunter Renfroe went deep an inning later, propelling the Padres to a series victory.
Renfroe hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the seventh after Margot robbed Pete Alonso at the wall, and San Diego beat the New York Mets 3-2 Wednesday to claim a three-game set.
Eric Hosmer also went deep for San Diego, Matt Strahm pitched into the seventh and Gerardo Reyes (2-0) got the victory with 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. Strahm got a big assist from Margot, who jumped in front of the home bullpen to retrieve Alonso’s drive for the last out in the sixth.
“It kind of took my breath away there for a second,” Strahm said. “I thought (Alonso) got me and Manny brought it back.”
“That kid in center field probably won the game for them today,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “Renfroe and their center fielder beat us.”
Kirby Yates allowed an infield single and a walk with two outs in the ninth but struck out Tomas Nido to finish his 15th save.
Renfroe’s shot against reliever Tyler Bashlor (0-1) was his ninth of the year and came three days after his game-ending, pinch-hit grand slam sank the Dodgers.
“He’s clutch and has been for a long time,” Padres manager Andy Green said.
The left-handed Strahm pitched two-run ball over 6 1/3 innings relying mostly on his slider and changeup. He struck out seven and allowed six hits and a walk, ending his streak of four consecutive starts without a free pass.
Reyes, who arrived Tuesday night from the minors, relieved Strahm and struck out Nido and pinch-hitter Todd Frazier on six pitches to strand two runners. He finished with a career-high three strikeouts.
“We don’t have too many guys out there right now that can throw 97-99 mph,” Green said of Reyes. “And he’s really confident in big situations, and he came through for us.”
Wilmer Font started for New York after being acquired from Tampa Bay on Monday, filling in for injured Steven Matz. Font pitched two-run ball over four innings, allowing just three hits.
San Diego’s Franmil Reyes made it 2-2 in the third on a soft popup that shortstop Amed Rosario just failed to corral in short left field.
Hosmer continued his hot run with his fifth home run in 17 games to slice the Padres’ deficit to 2-1 in the second.
Rosario singled home Jeff McNeil in the first, and Nido made it 2-0 with his first homer since September in the second.
RAVES FOR REYES
Gerardo Reyes’ electric relief stint was the topic du jour in the Padres’ clubhouse.
“It was unbelievable as he was throwing 99 from the hip,” Strahm said. “It just shows what we have in our farm system as he’s (activated) today and he comes in and does that. That speaks a lot on what’s coming.”
Nido tipped as cap, too.
“Reyes had a funky delivery and had a really good fastball,” he said. “We all saw the video before the game and saw that his fastball had life and he executed.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: Matz (forearm) will be re-evaluated Friday. … INF Jed Lowrie (knee) is expected to rejoin the team Friday and be inserted into the No. 2 spot in the lineup
UP NEXT
Mets: RHP Zack Wheeler (2-2, 4.64) has produced double-digit strikeout games in two of his past three outings. He’s scheduled to open a three-game homestead against the Marlins on Friday.
Padres: LHP Eric Lauer (2-3, 4.30) is expected to make his club-leading eighth start when facing the Rockies.
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