Citi Field- New York

The Padres took game two in New York behind a four-run swing from their captain, Manny Machado.

Starter Nick Pivetta departed after only four and two-thirds, but held the Mets to three runs, which was enough for Machado and company. The top of the order was extremely productive, combining for 7 hits and three walks. Although Juan Soto nearly missed a game-tying homer, the Padres’ bullpen was able to navigate through the talented Mets roster. Robert Suarez put the finishing touches on the 7-4 win and recaptured his place as the NL saves leader.

Nick Pivetta started the game for the Padres, providing some much-needed stability after a rocky series opener. However, Pivetta hasn’t been the same pitcher on the road as he has at home. On the road, his ERA is over a run higher than at home, sitting at 3.41 entering the night. Overall, Pivetta is posting a 2.73 ERA through 29 games and ranks as the 11th-best starter in the MLB in terms of fWAR.

For the Mets, they countered with the experienced southpaw, David Peterson. Both 2024 and 2025 have been efficient years for Peterson, with ERAs of 2.90 and 3.77, respectively. However, it’s been a different story of late for Peterson. After allowing eight runs in two frames against the Marlins, Peterson struggled in starts against the Reds and Phillies.

The Padres successfully put the pressure back on Peterson, with Fernando Tatis Jr. smashing a 112 MPH single to open the game. After Luis Arraez walked, a groundout and RBI sac fly from Gavin Sheets put the Friars on top in the first, for about ten minutes. In the bottom half, the Pete Alonso and the powered-up Mets picked up where they left off yesterday. Pivetta threw a cookie to Alonso, who blasted it over the gap for a game-tying home run.

Pete Alonso homers in his third-straight game and ties things up!

Home run #36 on the year! pic.twitter.com/zsL6F9rjtv

— SNY (@SNYtv) September 17, 2025

Fortunately, the Padres were able to retake the lead quickly thanks to a gritty nine-pitch at bat from Jackson Merrill that resulted in a single, and an RBI single from Jake Cronenworth to plate the run. Nick Pivetta backed up the Padres’ bats, striking out three hitters in the second and third innings. In the fourth, another middle-middle fastball found the zone of Starling Marte, who blasted it for a game-tying home run.

Afterwards, the Padres had themselves a trademark inning in terms of their hitting philosophy. After a hit by pitch began the inning, Elias Diaz laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Cronenworth to second. The added pressure helped Fernando Tatis Jr. to talk, and Luis Arraez to single on a surprise bunt. The extreme small ball set the table for arguably the best bases-loaded hitter in the sport, Manny Machado. Machado drew a full count, but got a favorable breaking ball at his knees and sent it on its way. Everyone knew it was gone off the bat, and Machado extended his MLB-leading 14th grand slam among active players. The Padres jumped in front 6-2, all thanks to pesky at-bats, chippy strategy, and one big swing of the bat.

Manny Machado’s numbers with bases loaded since he entered the league in 2012:

1.068 OPS
14 home runs
170 wRC+
.355 BA

His 14 grand slams are the most in baseball since 2012 pic.twitter.com/10v2aWKwOE

— Clark Fahrenthold (@CFahrenthold11) September 18, 2025

With a roster as talented as the Mets, there was no time for the Padres to rest just yet. Before Pivetta could escape the fifth inning, Juan Soto tagged him with a solo homer on an inside curveball. Soto, one of the best full-count hitters in the sport, recognized the high curveball and got just inside of it.

After Pete Alonso singled to center, Nick Pivetta was removed from the game, just missing out on being eligible for the win. Adrian Morejon was first up for the Padres and took care of business. He struck out Brandon Nimmo to end the frame, and returned for the sixth to retire the side in order. The bridge inning proved helpful, as the Mets struck back in the seventh.

Jeremiah Estrada— who’s in the midst of a funk of allowing home runs— was greeted with one upon entering the game in the seventh. Francisco Alvarez shot a slider into the gap and onto the top of the wall, as it looked to have stayed in the yard. However, video review revealed that the ball hit off a special area of padding that was classified as an out-of-play object, overturning the call.

With the score tightened, a pair of balls down the left field line shifted the momentum down the stretch. First, Mason Miller faced Juan Soto later in the seventh, after Estrada departed after facing the minimum. Miller battled with three fastballs, but Soto shot the fourth one down the line towards the pole. With a runner on, a home run would’ve evened the score. However, the ball sailed just foul, as a quick review confirmed the call. Soto struck out looking on the following pitch, as did Pete Alonso afterwards. Fast forward to the ninth inning, and Ramon Laureano got a hold of a cement-mixer sweeper that he cleaned out and, unlike Soto, kept fair inside the pole. The insurance blast extended the Padres’ lead to 7-4, giving closer Robert Suarez some breathing room.

¡Ramón Laureano dijo presente en Citi Field! 💥 pic.twitter.com/tzpvdLrHv0

— MLB Español (@mlbespanol) September 18, 2025

Suarez came on in the bottom half of the ninth to try and tie Carlos Estevez for the most saves in Major League Baseball. The Mets’ “big three” hoped to mount a comeback and extend their lead for the final wild card spot. Suarez allowed a leadoff knock to Brett Baty, furthermore setting up the big bats in the Mets lineup. With Francisco Lindor drawing a two-out walk, the spotlight fell onto Juan Soto once more to try and tie the game with a big swing. Soto battled hard, taking a crucial changeup for a ball just inches off the plate. Ultimately, Soto connected on the changeup but hit it right at Suarez, who knocked it down and threw him out.

Following the win, Manny Machado spoke about his mindset during the game-altering, bases-loaded at-bat. “Just the whole at-bat, he didn’t really throw me any heaters,” Machado stated, “I kinda knew he didn’t wanna get beat with that.” In the end, Machado added that he “kinda eliminated that one and just tried to get something up in the air,” which was evident in his home run swing.

San Diego will look to steal the road series with the Mets early tomorrow at 10:00 AM. The Mets’ freshly called-up rookie, Jonah Tong, will get the start against the Padres. Meanwhile, the Padres will counter with Randy Vasquez.

Willy Warren

A 17-year-old San Diego native, Willy Warren is a baseball fan at heart who created High Leverage Baseball, a public baseball media account covering around-the-league statistical analysis and breakdowns on X. Willy is set to attend the Cronkite School of Journalism in the fall of 2026 at Arizona State University, where he’ll pursue a major in sports journalism.