Volquez leaves early as Padres fall to Mets

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Edinson Volquez was on such a hot streak lately that even his control issues weren't hurting him.

But his run ended when the New York Mets took advantage of his wildness in a 6-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.

Volquez (7-8) allowed four runs and two hits in 1 2-3 innings. The right-hander walked four, including two with the bases loaded. Volquez has walked a major league-high 84.

"His mechanics were out of whack, as much as I've seen him this season," San Diego manager Bud Black said.

Volquez said he felt a blister in the first inning and by the second he "couldn't feel the ball very well."

"It's a tough day," Volquez said. "Everybody can have a day like that in the big leagues."

The Padres' righty came into the game with a 4-0 record and a 2.36 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 45 2-3 innings over his past seven starts. But it didn't take long to figure out something was wrong.

After a solid first inning, Volquez got wild in the second. After Ike Davis' leadoff single, Volquez issued consecutive walks to load the bases. The right-hander struck out Andres Torres before he missed on a full-count pitch to Thole to force in a run.

After Volquez struck out Hefner, he walked in a second run when he missed again on another full-count pitch to Ruben Tejada. Jordany Valdespin then lined a two-run double to right field to knock Volquez out of the game.

"We are kind of a patient club anyway," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "It was one of those nights. That's not the guy we've seen in the past. He didn't have very good command."

Former Padres minor leaguer Jeremy Hefner (2-4) pitched six solid innings in his third start in place of the injured Johan Santana.

The right-hander held San Diego to one run and five hits with no walks and two strikeouts.

Hefner gave up three hits to Alexi Amarista, who also had an RBI, and two to Everth Cabrera.

Frank Francisco got the final two outs on a double play for his first save since he came off the disabled list on Friday and 19th of the season.

New York's Mike Baxter tied an overall club record with five walks. He set the Mets' record for a nine-inning game.

Josh Thole drove in two runs for the Mets, who have won five of seven and are 6-4 on their season-high, 11-game West Coast road trip. Daniel Murphy tied his career high with four hits.

San Diego's Chase Headley led off the ninth against Bobby Parnell with his 14th home run.

Hefner, drafted by San Diego in the 10th round in 2007, was pounded by the Padres in his first major league start May 24. He allowed six runs and nine hits before getting pulled with two outs in the fourth in an 11-5 defeat.

NOTES: Vince Coleman set the Mets' walk record in 1992 in a 16-inning game against Pittsburgh. ... Tejada went 2 for 5 to run his hitting streak to a career-high 10 games. ... Padres RHP Cory Burns made his major league debut in the fifth inning. ... Mets manager Terry Collins said Johan Santana (sprained right ankle) will throw a minor league rehab start for Class A Brooklyn on Sunday that is scheduled to last three innings. If there is no setback, Santana is expected to return next Saturday against Atlanta. ... San Diego RHP Tim Stauffer, the team's opening day starter, pitched one inning in a rehab start for Class A Lake Elsinore. ... Mets rookie RHP Matt Harvey (1-1, 1.59 ERA) will oppose San Diego RHP Jason Marquis (4-6, 4.08) in Sunday's finale. 

Tags:   mlb, new york mets, San Diego Padres

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