Marcus Stroman pitched one-run ball into the seventh inning, Francisco Lindor hit an early two-run homer and the New York Mets beat the slumping San Diego Padres 4-1 Saturday.
Stroman (6-4) pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and walking one while tying a season high with eight strikeouts. He induced two double plays to sure-handed second baseman Luis Guillorme and got eight outs via ground ball. The sinkerballer entered with an NL-best 53.9% grounder rate.
Stroman lasted at least six innings for a career-high seventh straight start and beat San Diego for the second time in seven days. He also allowed a run in 6 2/3 innings Sunday in San Diego.
Stroman took a shutout into the seventh until Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his 18th homer to open the inning.
Tatis moved into a tie with Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. for the NL homer lead. He crushed an 0-1 slider over the left field fence, admired his latest homer and did his customary, celebratory stutter step before touching third.
Two batters after Tatis’ drive, Stroman walked Wil Myers and exited to a nice ovation.
Aaron Loup finished the seventh and Seth Lugo struck out Manny Machado with a runner on to end a hitless eighth. Edwin Díaz converted his 12th save in 13 chances, with Lindor converting the final out at short with an off-balanced throw on a grounder that was deflected by Díaz.
New York allowed three runs or fewer for the 11th straight home game and for the 17th time in 22 home games.
The Mets clinched their 11th series victory this year and moved eight games over .500 for the first time since the end of 2019. New York also won for the 11th time in 15 games and homered for the 10th time in 12 games.
San Diego matched a season high with its fourth straight loss. The Padres also lost for the 10th time in 13 games.
Lindor homered seven pitches in, hitting a first-pitch fastball from Joe Musgrove (4-6) over the right-center field fence. Jonathan Villar added a solo homer in the eighth.
Musgrove allowed three runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings.
The Mets took a 3-0 lead in the sixth when Lindor walked, advanced to third on Pete Alonso’s single and scored on a groundout by Dominic Smith. Villar reached the second deck in right in the eighth.
An MRI on Jacob deGrom (right flexor tendinitis) came back clean, and he is expected to make his next start Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs. Jeff McNeil (hamstring) and Michael Conforto (hamstring) ran the bases. McNeil is to start a rehab assignment Sunday. Billy McKinney (sore right knee) was a late scratch from the starting lineup he is day to day Rojas said after the MRI came back clean.
The Mets and Padres close out their three-game series on Sunday at 1:10 p.m.
Padres RHP Chris Paddack (2-5, 4.27) faces Mets LHP Joey Lucchesi (1-4, 5.79) in a matchup of former San Diego teammates.