Final Score: Mets 4, Padres 1 — Wheeler strikes out twelve

The Mets beat the Padres in the first of four games at Petco Park, and Zack Wheeler made his best start yet in the big leagues. Wheeler struck out twelve, walked one, and allowed just one run on 115 pitches in six innings of work.

The Mets plated the first run of the game in the fourth inning when Daniel Murphy scored from second base on a two-out infield single by Josh Satin. The Padres answered with a run on a Jaff Decker sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning, and neither team scored again through the seventh.

But the Mets regained the lead in the eighth. After Mike Baxter was hit by a pitch and stole second, the Padres intentionally walked Daniel Murphy to face Marlon Byrd, who doubled to score both baserunners. John Buck tacked on a solo home run in the ninth to make it 4-1 in favor of the Mets.

Scott Atchison's scoreless seventh inning and Gonzalez Germen's scoreless eighth and ninth innings preserved the victory.

Game Thread Roll Call

Nice job by MetsFan4Decades; her effort in the game thread embiggens us all.