Thole's Lack Of Concentration, Silent Bats Doom Mets In San Diego
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Carlos Quentin scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning when he knocked the ball out of catcher Josh Thole's glove, and the San Diego Padres denied R.A. Dickey his 15th victory with a 3-1 win over the New York Mets on Friday night.
Clayton Richard (8-11) limited New York to one run and eight hits in seven-plus innings.
Dickey (14-3) held the Padres to one run and one hit through six innings before San Diego got to the knuckleballer in the seventh, scoring two runs in the inning -- one earned.
The Padres managed only four hits but won for the second time in seven games. Huston Street got the final four outs for his 18th save in as many chances.
New York, which had won four of five, is 5-4 on its season-high, 11-game West Coast trip.
The Padres tied it in the sixth and then went ahead for good in the seventh.
Quentin hit a one-out single in the seventh, and Yonder Alonso followed with a shot into the right-center field gap. Right fielder Scott Hairston slid, while trying to make the catch, but the ball bounced past him. Center fielder Andres Torres picked it up and threw it to second baseman Ronny Cedeno.
Cedeno's throw to Thole arrived well before Quentin, but the big outfielder lowered his left shoulder and barreled into Thole, knocking the ball free and giving the Padres a 2-1 lead. John Baker followed with an RBI single to stretch it to a two-run edge.
Dickey, who allowed three runs -- two earned -- walked three and struck out nine to take over the major-league lead from Washington's Stephen Strasburg with 158.
David Wright led off the Mets fourth with a walk, went to second on Hairston's single, and advanced to third on a fly out.
Cedeno followed with a high bouncer that Logan Forsythe fielded on the run behind second base. Forsythe tried to throw to shortstop Everth Cabrera for a force out on Hairston, but the throw went over Cabrera's head, allowing Wright to score.
San Diego tied it 1-1 when Cabrera led off the sixth with a walk, was sacrificed to second, stole third and scored on Chris Denorfia's sacrifice fly.
Dickey is tied with four other pitchers with a major-league best 14 wins.
Notes: Dickey lost on the road for the first time since April 18 at Atlanta. The righty is 8-2 in 11 road starts. . New York activated right-handed closer Frank Francisco (left oblique strain) from the disabled list. The Mets placed LHP Tim Byrdak on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 2. --- Mets manager Terry Collins said RHP Johan Santana (right ankle sprain) is expected to throw in a minor league rehab start for Single-A Brooklyn on Sunday or Monday. . Since May 21, the Padres have played 23 games at Petco Park and 42 on the road. . The Padres designated starting RHP Kip Wells for assignment. . Mets RHP Jeremy Hafner (1-4, 5.52 ERA) will face Padres RHP Edison Volquez (7-7, 3.51) on Saturday night.
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