San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Adrian Gonzalez hit a one-out, game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the 11th inning to send San Diego over the New York Mets, 5-1, in the rubber match of a three-game set.
Gonzo! Adrian Gonzalez Hits Walk-Off Grand Slam To Beat Mets, 5-1
David Eckstein also drove in a run for the Padres, who won two of three in the series.
Ryan Webb (2-1) turned in two scoreless relief innings for the win. Starter Clayton Richard limited the visitors to four hits and one run with five strikeouts and four walks in six innings.
Jeff Francoeur knocked in the lone run for the Mets, who had taken a 4-2 decision on Tuesday.
Raul Valdes (2-2) served up the blast to take the loss. Johan Santana went the first seven innings and allowed five hits without a run despite issuing five walks.
Valdes allowed a double to Tony Gwynn, Jr. to start the fateful frame, then pinch-hitter Jon Garland bunted into a fielder's choice. Jerry Hairston, Jr. singled and Eckstein was hit by a pitch on the left knee to load the bases.
Gonzalez followed by lining a pitch into the left-field seats to end the contest.
New York got on the board in the fourth. Jason Bay singled to start, then stole second with one out. David Wright's single put runners on the corners then Francoeur dumped a hit to right to bring in Bay.
San Diego tied the game in the ninth against the usually-reliable Francisco Rodriguez. Pinch-hitter Gwynn singled, then stole second. After pinch-hitter Matt Stairs and Scott Hairston fanned, Eckstein punched a single up the middle to plate Gwynn. The Padres could have won the game when Gonzalez followed with a double, but Eckstein was thrown out at the plate.
The slam was the second game-ending homer in Gonzalez's career, with the first occurring on May 25, 2008 against the Reds...This was the first game-ending slam for the Padres since Everth Cabrera did it on August 7, 2009 to beat the Mets...San Diego has won seven of the last 10 meetings with the Mets...It was Garland's second-ever pinch-hit appearance and first since May 21, 2009 against Florida...Prior to the game, the Padres activated Hairston from the 15-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Luis Durango to Triple-A Portland.
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