Mets 2, Padres 0: Dickey Sparkles, Bullpen Shines

R.A. Dickey allowed just three hits and one walk over 7.1 innings, striking out ten Padres and keeping San Diego off the scoreboard altogether. His only bit of trouble came in the eighth, when he hit Nick Hundley and walked Chris Denorfia to put the tying runs on base with just one out. Terry Collins relieved Dickey with everyday Tim Byrdak, who got pinch-hitter Alexi Amarista to line out to center and then struck out Will Venable to end the inning. Frank Francisco set the Padres down in order to lock up the victory, throwing nary a chair in the process.

The Mets scored their first run in the first frame on an RBI single by Daniel Murphy which plated David Wright; their second run came in the fifth when Mike Baxter, who had doubled and advanced to third on an Edinson Volequez wild pitch, scored on a passed ball by Hundley. They didn't get much more offense to speak of, but those runs coupled with a fine pitching performance and a lousy Padres lineup were enough to give the Mets their second straight shutout.

We knew it was over when...

Dickey arrived at the ballpark. He had no-hit stuff today.

What else?

• Wright went 0-for-3 with a walk and his average plummeted to .382. Embarrassing.
• Justin Turner went 2-for-3, raising his on-base percentage to .310. Uh huh.
• Francisco is now tied for second in the NL with thirteen saves. Saves are meaningless piffle, of course, but if the Mets fall out of the race there are surely some credulous general managers out there who'd love to have a Proven Closer™ for the playoff push.

Game Thread Roll Call

Nice job by CTRefJay; that effort in the game thread embiggens us all.