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The New York Mets had been floundering for the last month despite having the second-highest payroll in Major League Baseball. Despite having had a 10+ game lead over the Atlanta Braves going into the end of June, the Mets fumbled their lead. New York was ultimately swept by the Braves in the last week of the season, falling from a second place National League bye to a spot in the Wild Card round.
The only Game 3 from Major League Baseball’s Wild Card weekend ended with a shutout, as the San Diego Padres beat the Mets 6-0. The Padres advance to the NLDS, where they will play the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The @Padres pull off the upset! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/lT5PsD7rBR
— MLB (@MLB) October 10, 2022
The series came down to consistent hitting. San Diego outscored the Mets 16 to 8 throughout the series. The Padres ran up the score on Mets starter Max Scherzer in Game 1, winning 7-1. The Mets did come back and win Game 2 7-3 to tie the series, but their efforts ultimately proved fruitless.
Starter Joe Musgrove carried San Diego through the game. Musgrove pitched 7 scoreless innings, striking out 5 and only allowing a single hit. Musgrove held a 2.93 ERA this season and looked dominant per usual throughout Sunday night’s victory. Relievers Robert Suarez and Josh Hader closed out the game for the Padres, pitching two more scoreless innings.
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1579290810121539584
The New York crowd chanted “Cheater!” at Musgrove as he was checked for foreign substances after a request from Mets manager Buck Showalter prior to the 6th inning. The umpire had his hands up by the pitchers’ ears as if to pull a quarter out. Ultimately no substances were spotted and a magic coin was nowhere to be found. Musgrove pitched two more scoreless innings following the check.
Mets manager Buck Showalter called for a substance check on Joe Musgrove.
The umpires looked at Musgrove's hand, glove, hat and ears.
They found nothing and Musgrove remained in the game. pic.twitter.com/UVyzzuTK3T
— ESPN (@espn) October 10, 2022
San Diego’s hitters were also dominant in Sunday’s win. Padres batters recorded 10 hits and 4 walks. Outfielder Trent Grisham was the game’s standout batter. Grisham accounted for two runs scored and a single RBI.
Newly acquired outfielder Juan Soto also had two hits and two RBIs, and South Korean shortstop Ha-Seong Kim accounted for three runs. The Padres lineup was dominant throughout the game.
The Mets meanwhile were not so fruitful. New York’s only hit came in the fifth inning Pete Alonso singled to right field.
New York’s pitching was also abysmal. The Mets struggled to gain traction after starter Chris Bassitt allowed 3 runs through the first four innings. Mets’ relievers would allow a combined 3 more runs, sealing New York’s fate.
The Padres will travel to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers tomorrow night. The Mets return home, heads hung low.
