Fermin Ends Padres' Skid
Freddy Fermin's Surprise Homer Helps Padres Snap Six-Game Losing Streak Against Mets
Catcher Freddy Fermin had gone hitless in his previous 30 at-bats. Then, with two outs in the seventh inning, he launched a first-pitch sinker from Mets reliever Austin Warren 366 feet into the left-field stands — a two-run homer that gave San Diego a 3-2 lead and ended the Padres' six-game losing streak oskaloosa.com.
The win lifts the Padres to 33-30 and keeps them within striking distance in the NL West. For the Mets, now 28-36, the loss deepens a troubling slide despite the league's largest payroll ca.sports.yahoo.com.
Fermin Breaks 0-for-30 Slump at the Perfect Moment
Fermin entered the game with a sub-.400 OPS and zero home runs in 2026. He was a defense-first backup catcher — not the player anyone expected to deliver. But with Sung-Mun Song on base after an infield single, Fermin turned on a sinker from Austin Warren and drove it into the seats heraldbulletin.com.
"I knew I was struggling, but you just have to stay ready for that one pitch," Fermin said. "Seeing it go over the fence was the biggest relief of my season." Warren was blunt about his own performance: "I didn't do my job, plain and simple. I got the pitch in, but he made a good swing" wdtimes.com.
Semien's Solo Shot Briefly Gave the Mets the Lead
The Mets struck first. Brett Baty hit a two-out RBI single in the second inning to make it 1-0. The Padres tied it in the third when Fernando Tatis Jr.'s grounder ricocheted off the second-base bag into right field, scoring Sung-Mun Song mrt.com.
Then, in the seventh, Marcus Semien crushed a leadoff solo homer at 101.5 mph off reliever Bradgley Rodriguez, putting the Mets back ahead 2-1. That lead lasted less than half an inning before Fermin's blast flipped the score to 3-2 ctpost.com.
McLean Shines, but Mets' Bullpen Gives Up the Lead
Mets rookie Nolan McLean — a prospect nicknamed "Cowboy Ohtani" — was sharp. He allowed just one run on three hits over six innings. But McLean got a no-decision when Warren surrendered the go-ahead homer in the seventh rutlandherald.com.
The Mets had a chance to answer in the eighth. They put two runners on with one out. Then Juan Soto hit a 108-mph line drive — directly to Song at second base. Song flipped to Xander Bogaerts to double off the runner and end the inning. The Padres' closer Mason Miller finished it off with his 18th save in 18 chances yakimaherald.com.
Padres Bullpen and Front Office Face Pressure to Deliver
The win came at a critical moment for San Diego. A seventh straight loss would have raised serious questions about manager Craig Stammen's job security. Stammen had said before the game: "The whole world knows we aren't as good as we expected right now. We need production from every spot" the-messenger.com.
The Padres' bullpen leads MLB with a 2.97 ERA. Miller, acquired from the Athletics in a 2025 trade, has been the centerpiece of that group. San Diego's front office had come under fire earlier in the week after cutting Nick Castellanos. For now, Fermin's homer has bought the team — and its brass — a little more breathing room leadertelegram.com.
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