SAN DIEGO - David Wells was on his best behavior, pitching six strong innings and leading the San Diego Padres to a 5-1 victory over the New York Mets on Monday night.
Michael Barrett went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, his best game since coming over in a trade with the Chicago Cubs on June 20. Mike Cameron homered for the Padres, who led the NL West at the All-Star break before falling into second place behind Los Angeles after losing two of three at Arizona over the weekend.
Wells (5-5) was pitching for the first time since he was suspended for seven games and fined $3,000 by the commissioner's office for his animated argument with an umpire on July 14.
Wells appealed, so the penalty can't start until after a hearing and a decision.
In his final start before the break, Wells was ejected by Ed Hickox for questioning calls. The portly pitcher had to be restrained by San Diego manager Bud Black, two coaches and catcher Josh Bard, then fired a ball against the screen as he walked off the field.
On Monday night, the only hint of disagreement Wells seemed to have with home plate umpire Chad Fairchild was when he didn't get the call he wanted on an 0-1 curveball to Lastings Milledge in the fifth. The 44-year-old Wells, who's barked plenty at umpires this season, simply hopped in disappointment.
Wells allowed one run and seven hits, struck out two and walked one.
The Padres have won his last four starts after losing nine of his first 14.
Mets right-hander Jorge Sosa (7-4) lost in his return from the disabled list. He had been out since July 1 with a strained left hamstring.
Barrett hit a two-run single in the second off Sosa and added an RBI single off Aaron Heilman in the eighth.
Heilman also gave up Cameron's leadoff homer to center in the eighth, his 12th.
Wells didn't allow a baserunner until Sosa got his first career double with two outs in the third.
Trailing 2-0, the Mets broke through in the fourth with three straight one-out hits. Wright singled to right, advanced on Carlos Delgado's hit to right and scored on Paul Lo Duca's grounder between shortstop and third base.
The Mets had runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth when Wells got Carlos Beltran to ground to second.
Padres 5
Mets 1
Up next
Mets at Padres, 10 p.m., SNY
Wells (5-5) was pitching for the first time since he was suspended for seven games and fined $3,000 by the commissioner's office for his animated argument with an umpire on July 14.
Wells appealed, so the penalty can't start until after a hearing and a decision.
In his final start before the break, Wells was ejected by Ed Hickox for questioning calls. The portly pitcher had to be restrained by San Diego manager Bud Black, two coaches and catcher Josh Bard, then fired a ball against the screen as he walked off the field.
On Monday night, the only hint of disagreement Wells seemed to have with home plate umpire Chad Fairchild was when he didn't get the call he wanted on an 0-1 curveball to Lastings Milledge in the fifth. The 44-year-old Wells, who's barked plenty at umpires this season, simply hopped in disappointment.
Wells allowed one run and seven hits, struck out two and walked one.
The Padres have won his last four starts after losing nine of his first 14.
Mets right-hander Jorge Sosa (7-4) lost in his return from the disabled list. He had been out since July 1 with a strained left hamstring.
Barrett hit a two-run single in the second off Sosa and added an RBI single off Aaron Heilman in the eighth.
Heilman also gave up Cameron's leadoff homer to center in the eighth, his 12th.
Wells didn't allow a baserunner until Sosa got his first career double with two outs in the third.
Trailing 2-0, the Mets broke through in the fourth with three straight one-out hits. Wright singled to right, advanced on Carlos Delgado's hit to right and scored on Paul Lo Duca's grounder between shortstop and third base.
The Mets had runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth when Wells got Carlos Beltran to ground to second.
Padres 5
Mets 1
Up next
Mets at Padres, 10 p.m., SNY
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