The Mets snapped their seven-game winning streak, losing a back-and-forth battle to the San Diego Padres, 7-6.
New York let up five runs in the fifth inning, blowing a 5-1 lead, and look lost until Ronny Mauricio homered with one out in the ninth inning to tie the game at 6-6. However, new Met Gregory Soto struggled in the bottom of the ninth, including a throwing error to extend the frame, and let up a walk-off single to Elias Díaz.
The Mets (61-44) remain 1.5 games ahead of the Phillies for first place in the NL East after Philadelphia lost to the Chicago White Sox.
Here are the takeaways…
— New York got on the board in the second inning thanks to some heads-up baserunning by Jeff McNeil. He walked and then went from first to third on Mark Vientos' single, keeping an eye on CF Jackson Merrill fielding the ball while continuing to run. Brett Baty then delivered with a sacrifice fly to left field, putting the Mets up 1-0.
— There was a scary moment in the top of the third inning as Francisco Lindor hit a hard ground ball that bounced and hit pitcher Dylan Cease in the back of the head. The ball ricocheted into foul territory around third base, allowing Lindor to advance to second. Cease stayed in the game and struck out Juan Soto after some questionable calls by home plate umpire Emil Jimenez.
Soto then got visibly upset with the strike three call, but Carlos Mendozacame out to defend him and was soon ejected.
— Vientos nearly had a home run in the top of the fourth inning, but Fernando Tatis Jr. leaped at the wall and made the catch to rob the big hit. Tatis did drop the ball out of his glove after landing, but the call on the field remained. Vientos made the most of his redemption opportunity in fifth inning after Cease intentionally walked McNeil to get to him — launching his first career grand slam over the head of Tatis into the right field stands to put the Mets up 5-1.
— Frankie Montas tossed a quick first inning with a inning-ending 6-4-3 double play, and avoided damage from a bases-loaded jam in the second by striking out Díaz. After a hit-by-pitch and walk in the third inning, Montas let up a RBI-single to Xander Bogaerts that tied the game up at 1-1. Montas then bounced back to retire the next four batters to get through the fourth inning.
Montas let up a leadoff double to Tatis that was deflected by Baty and then a rare HR to Luis Arraez, making it a 5-3 game. Montas then gave up a single to Manny Machado and a double to Bogaerts, ending his night after 4.1 IP. He wound up allowing five earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
— Despite a great play by Pete Alonso at first base with runners on second and third, Jake Cronenworth beat out Huascar Brazobán to the bag, allowing the run to score. Brazobán's two-out mistake to not cover the base in time caused a complete meltdown — he let up a game-tying RBI-single to Bryce Johnson and go-ahead RBI-single to Díaz as the Mets all of a sudden trailed, 6-5. The nightmare continued with a wild pitch and walk to Tatis, loading the bases. Francisco Alvarez thankfully saved a bouncing ball from getting by and Brazobán got Arraez to fly out.
— Rico Garcia kept it a one-run game by tossing two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit and one walk with four strikeouts. Ryne Stanek followed up with a scoreless eighth inning.
— After Vientos' grand slam in the fifth inning, Baty lined out to end the inning and the next 10 Mets were retired through the ninth before Mauricio's game-tying home run.
Game MVP: Elias Díaz
Díaz was a thorn in all of the Mets' pitchers' sides on Monday night, hitting the walk-off and going 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Highlights
Sac fly for Brett Baty gets the Mets on the board first! pic.twitter.com/fbNOnxQryN
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 29, 2025
Frankie Montas gets out of a bases loaded jam with a strikeout to end the second inning! pic.twitter.com/r3bMQIx0gu
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 29, 2025
Carlos Mendoza has been ejected after Juan Soto was called out on a questionable strike three. pic.twitter.com/hd22gE906m
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 29, 2025
MARK VIENTOS GRAND SLAM!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/LEb4yx6tSR
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 29, 2025
RONNY MAURICIO TIES IT!! pic.twitter.com/LnXLwE83R1
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 29, 2025
What's next
The Mets and Padres continue their three-game series on Tuesday at 9:40 p.m. on SNY.
Sean Manaea (1-1, 2.19 ERA) makes his third start since returning from injury, while San Diego has yet to decide on a starting pitcher.
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