NEW YORK — On one of the most memorable nights in Padres history, Joe Musgrove answered his own against San Diego and smothered the New York Mets.
Musgrove waved off cries of “cheater” from the stands A different review from the referees on the mound, and the Padres advanced to the next round of the playoffs with a 6-0 victory over the Mets on Sunday.
He allowed just one hit over seven innings as his hometown team won the best-of-three NL wild-card series 2-1.
Trent Grisham had an RBI single and a sensational catch in center field. Austin Nola and Juan Soto added two-run singles.
San Diego advances to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in a best-of-five division series that begins Tuesday. Returning to Petco Park for Game 3, the Padres secured a home game in front of their fans in the postseason for the first time in 16 years.
“We know. The fans want to see some postseason games,” manager Bob Melvin said Sunday afternoon. “To a certain extent, we feel they are a part of us.”
As Musgrove dominated the sixth inning, Mets manager Buck Showalter asked the umpires to watch the right-hander. Spin speed increased on all six of his throws. After Showalter entered the field, head umpire Alfonso Marquez rubbed Muscro’s ears and took his hat and glove.
Musgrove was allowed to continue pitching.
“I understand,” Musgrove said. “They were dying, they were desperate. They tried everything to get me out of the game at that point. That was it.”
“It was able to motivate me,” he said.
The Padres won a playoff series for the fifth time. The 2020 season was won by the defending World Series champion Dodgers in the first-round at home against St. Louis after the coronavirus pandemic-shortened it.
For the Mets, an electrifying season at home had a subdued finish. Major League Baseball’s biggest payroll won 101 games — the second-most in franchise history — but couldn’t hold off Atlanta in the NL East after leading the division for just six days.
“Our goal was to win the World Series and we fell short,” said Max Scherzer, who joined the Mets rotation by signing a three-year, $30 million contract.
Scherzer was hit in a Game 1 loss to San Diego, and New York hit Game 2 with Jacob deGrom to stay alive. But they could do nothing against Muskroe.
Third starter Chris Bassitt lasted just four innings, allowing three runs on three hits and issuing three costly walks to lower-order hitters.
In his first playoff start, Musgrove allowed just two runners to reach base.
“He absolutely dominated us,” shortstop Francisco Lindor said.
Robert Suarez and Josh Hader finished the job for the Padres in right relief.
For the Padres, Dominican Juan Soto is 4-2 with two RBIs.
For the Mets, Dominican Starling Marte is 3-0. Puerto Ricans Francisco Lindor 3-0, Tomás Nieto 3-0. Venezuela Eduardo Escobar 3-0.
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