Mets vs. Padres score, takeaways: San Diego crushes four homers off Max Scherzer to push New York to brink

The San Diego Padres defeated New York Mets 7-1 in Game 1 National League Wild Card Series at Citi Field on Friday night. This result gives the Padres a 1-0 lead in the best of three series, which functions as the first round in MLB's new playoff structure. 

Let's now look at some key takeaways from game 1. 

Bell reached Scherzer before Scherzer.

The Padres were quick to take out Max Scherzer, the Mets' starter and co-ace. Josh Bell, first baseman, hit this two-run homer to the opposite side of the field in the top of the first. 

The 95-mph fastball of Scherzer caught too much middle, and Bell didn’t miss. The homer traveled 419 feet to deep left center at 107.8mph. This was a big moment for Bell, who has struggled since his move to San Juan Soto just before the trade deadline. Bell's.192/.316/.271 average was lowered by the Padres with only three home runs in 53 games. This was on the heels a productive 103 games with Nationals. Even more concerning is the fact that Bell's quality-of-contract metrics declined significantly under San Diego's supervision. 

Bell is now the author, of what may be the Padres’ biggest home run of the season.

Then, a lot of other Padres went to Scherzer.

Scherzer yard was not just Bell's. Trent Grisham was the second batter, and Jurickson Profar the fifth. Manny Machado was the next batter to score after Profar. This game sent Scherzer to the showers. 

Trevor May arrived, and Scherzer's night was over. 4 2/3 IP 7 H, 7 R 7 SO, 4 SO, 4 HR. This gives Scherzer a 13.50 ERA. This is only the second time in his entire career (preseason or regular season) that he has allowed at least seven runs and at most four home runs in one game. For the postseason, here's this: 

This disaster outing comes just after Scherzer struggled in a crucial start against the Braves – four runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings when the division title hung in the balance. He may still be recovering from his oblique injury or he could just be feeling his 38-years of age. Or maybe it's just cruel, short-run randomness that baseball can offer. 

Scherzer is a three-time Cy Young winner, and a future first ballot Hall of Famer. But he hasn't looked like much of anything lately. 

Darvish was a great cook

Scherzer had a Game 1 that he forgot, but the Padres' Darvish still had one to recall. His contribution to the night: 

With his dizzying array, Darvish kept Mets batters in check. He threw five pitches on Friday, highlighted by his cutter. His velocity varied from 95.2 mph with a fastball to Francisco Lindor, in the fifth, to 66.9mph with a curve to Eduardo Escobar that same inning. Although his strikeout total wasn't as high as it usually is, the Mets were unable to make hard contact for most of the night. Escobar's solo home run was the only problem. Notable is Darvish's seven innings, which was a light night for Padres' bullpen by postseason standards. 

New York's DeGrom is next

Although we knew Blake Snell would start Game 2 for Padres, the Mets made their decision based on Game 1. If they won, it was planned to keep Jacob deGrom at bay in the hopes of closing out the Padres in Game 2. The Mets then lined up deGrom to start Game 1 in the NLDS. If they lose Game 1 to San Diego then deGrom would begin Game 2, which would be an elimination match for the Mets. As you know, the outcome was the opposite. DeGrom will be playing Saturday against Snell, Padres. The Padres are now just one win away from a matchup against the NL West-rival Dodgers at the NLDS. 

Game 2 of Saturday's series is set to begin at 7:37 p.m. ET.