Final Score: Mets 8, Padres 4 — Harvey and homers, oh yeah!

Tonight's game was about as much fun as one could have on a cold night in April. The Mets rolled the Padres for the second game in a row behind seven shutout innings from Matt Harvey and three two-run home runs from a mashing lineup. Harvey allowed just one hit and struck out ten while touching 98 mph on the radar gun. All of his pitches were working tonight; it was truly a dominant performance. Some late bullpen and defense shenanigans were the only blemishes on an otherwise enjoyable game.

Lucas Duda put the Mets up 2-0 in the second inning with a no-doubter two-run home run into the Pepsi Porch. John Buck and Ike Davis followed with two-run shots of their own in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively. All three blasts came against Padres starter Clayton Richard, who labored through 4.1 innings. Much like Opening Day, when Padres starter Edinson Volquez lasted just three innings, it was an early night for the Padres bullpen. The 8-0 lead the Mets held after the fifth inning came in handy, as they went down 1-2-3 in each of the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings.

The Mets bullpen wasn't quite as stout as Harvey. Greg Burke allowed a run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning before Josh Edgin came on to record the third out in the eighth. LaTroy Hawkins made his Mets debut in the ninth and got off to an inauspicious start, surrendering three runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. In Hawkins' defense, Ruben Tejada made a throwing error on what would have been the final out of the game. A run scored on the play, and Nick Hundley followed with an RBI double to chase Hawkins. No bother; Mets closer Bobby Parnell entered to record the final out and the Mets are now 2-0.

Game Thread Roll Call

Nice job by Steve Sypa; his effort in the game thread embiggens us all.