Justin Upton hits 3-run homer in ninth, Padres beat Mets
NEW YORK (AP) -- Justin Upton hit a three-run homer through a driving rain with two outs in the ninth inning, and the San Diego Padres stunned the New York Mets 8-7 Thursday as they overcame a six-run deficit during a game delayed nearly four hours by two storms.
With a darkening sky overhead, Jeurys Familia entered with a 7-5 lead and got two quick outs in the ninth before a torrential downpour stopped play. Frustrated, the Mets closer stood on the mound as the other players cleared the field.
When play resumed 44 minutes later, Derrick Norris fell behind 0-2 before singling for his career-high fifth hit. Matt Kemp singled as the rain began again and Upton, in what could be his final at-bat with the Padres, sent the first pitch soaring to right-center for San Diego's first lead.
Afrer Yangervis Solarte grounded out, play was halted again, this time for 2:52. Craig Kimbrel then was perfect in a 5-minute ninth for his 30th save, in front of just several hundred fans.
Marcos Mateo (1-0) pitched the eighth for the win.
Familia (2-1) dropped to 0 for 3 in save opportunities since the All-Star break. He was 27 of 29 before the four-day hiatus in mid-July.
New York lost its second straight to the Padres (49-53), falling three games behind Washington in the NL East heading into a weekend series between division rivals.
With San Diego trailing 7-1 in the seventh inning, Norris hit his second grand slam of the season, off Hansel Robles, who was facing his first batter after Bobby Parnell loaded the bases. Kemp had an RBI single in the sixth off Jonathon Niese for San Diego, winners of 8 of 12.
Only hours after the premature announcement on social media of a deal that never happened and left Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores in tears on the field, all was quiet on the trade front at Citi Field a day ahead of Friday's non-waiver trade deadline in a game between two teams expected to be active for different reasons.
The Mets had taken a 4-0 lead on Daniel Murphy's sacrifice fly and Curtis Granderson's three-run homer off Andrew Cashner. They upped it to 7-1 in the bottom of the sixth on Juan Uribe's first homer for New York, his ninth overall. Juan Lagares had a sacrifice fly and Ruben Tejada a run-scoring single after Clint Barmes' fielding error at shortstop.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: RHP Brandon Morrow (shoulder inflammation) had his scheduled rehab start scratched because of soreness in his shoulder. He will return to San Diego to be examined by a team doctor. "Don't know how significant it is," manager Pat Murphy said.
Mets: C Travis d'Arnaud (left elbow sprain) was back in New York clubhouse. He said he feels great and expects to be activated Friday. He went 6 for 20 (.300) in five rehab games with Double-A Binghamton.
UP NEXT
Padres: Ian Kennedy (6-9) is scheduled to start against Miami after the trade deadline passes, but the former 21-game winner's name has been included as someone San Diego might move.
Mets: Matt Harvey brings a 1.34 ERA over seven starts against the Nationals into the series opener. Bryce Harper is 0 for 14 against the Dark Knight. Ian Desmond is 5 for 17 (.294) with a double and homer against him.
