San Diego, CA (Sports Network) – Cameron Maybin hit a solo homer and Orlando Hudson drove in two runs to back six solid innings from Cory Luebke, as the San Diego Padres handled the New York Mets, 6-1, in the second test of a three-game series.
Nick Hundley, Alberto Gonzalez and Aaron Cunningham each knocked in a run for the Padres, who had lost three of four coming into Tuesday’s game.
Luebke (5-6) gave up one run on three hits to pick up the win. He struck out five and walked three. Chad Qualls, Luke Gregerson and Erik Hamren each tossed a scoreless inning of relief.
Ruben Tejada had two hits and an RBI for the Mets, who were unable to build off Monday’s 5-4, 10-inning victory.
Jonathon Niese (11-10) allowed three runs on 10 hits over six innings to take the loss.
The Padres scored all the runs they needed in the first inning. With one out, Logan Forsythe hit a ground-rule double to center. After Jesus Guzman struck out looking, Kyle Blanks reached base on an infield single. Hudson and Hundley followed with consecutive RBI singles for a 2-0 lead.
New York recorded its first hit of the game in the fourth. With a man on first and two outs, Ronny Paulino singled to right. Tejada followed with an RBI double down the third-base line, as the ball bounced off third base and into left field. Niese struck out swinging to strand runners on second and third.
San Diego got the run back in the home fourth. Hundley led off with a triple down the right-field line and scored on Cunningham’s sacrifice fly for a 3-1 edge.
The Padres added two runs in the seventh off Pedro Beato. Maybin led off the frame with a homer to left, while Guzman hit a one-out double to left and raced home on Hudson’s base hit to center for a 5-1 lead.
Gonzalez hit an RBI single off Mike Pelfrey in the eighth to make it 6-1.