Padres 7, Mets 3: Shields still undefeated

The Padres wrapped up this series aginst the Mets with another big win behind the still undefeated James Shields. That puts them at 4-3 for the homestand, and 6 for their last 9. Shields continued to be the most reliable pitcher on the team, allowing two runs on six hits and a pair of walks in seven innings. Offensively, the Friars were led by Justin Upton, Matt Kemp... and the Mets defense, who committed three errors.

The good guys got on the board early. In the first inning, Derek Norris reached base with one out on Ruben Tejada's first error. Upton followed that up with a walk, and then Kemp picked up a single to load the bases. Yonder Alonso took a beanball, picking up an RBI the Carlos Quentin way. Will Middlebrooks added on with a sacrifice fly, putting the Padres up 2-0 after one.

It didn't take any Met screwups for the Pads to add on in the fourth. Cory Spangenberg and Alexi Amarista started the inning with back to back singles, and then Shields bunted them over to bring up Will Venable. Will knocked a liner into right for another two runs. A double-play ball ended the inning, but that's not that bad when you've got a four run lead.

That lead was enough for a win, but more sloppy play from the Mets gave the Padres a crooked number in the fifth. Upton led off with a single and then stole his 11th base of the season. Kemp followed with another single to put runners on the corners with nobody out. A throwing error by Dillon Gee sent Upton home and put Alonso on second with nobody out, and Will Middlebrooks got in on the party with a two-run single to right.

The Mets did eventually get a pair of runs off Shields in the 6th and 7th, and even grabbed one off Kimbrel in the 9th, but they dug themselves too deep a hole. The Padres won the game and the series. They've got a happy flight to Cincinnati, where Tyson Ross will take on the Reds Friday at 4:10 PM.