Rookie Jackson Merrill hit a home run off Edwin Díaz with one out in the ninth inning, leading the San Diego Padres to a dramatic 3-2 win over the New York Mets on Sunday. This victory allowed the Padres to split the four-game series between the two playoff-contending teams.
Merrill crushed a 2-0 slider from Díaz (5-2) into the right-field seats and then began an enthusiastic trot around the bases. He slammed down his bat, pointed towards the Padres’ dugout, and high-fived Jurickson Profar, who had tied the game with a two-run home run in the eighth inning.
As Merrill rounded second base, he pointed towards the Padres’ bullpen and pumped his right fist. He was greeted by a lively celebration when he crossed home plate.
This home run was Merrill’s 19th of the season. The 21-year-old rookie is competing with Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes for the NL Rookie of the Year award.
Profar praised Merrill, saying, “He’s that guy. He has it. Every time he steps up to the plate like that … everyone in the dugout called it.” Jake Cronenworth struck out just before Merrill’s home run.
When asked about the walk-off homer, Merrill downplayed his own achievement, saying, “Same thing as every day we win: We won the game. That is what it felt like. Any thoughts on myself, or anything, that’s all for the team.”
Before Merrill went to the plate, Cronenworth gave him some advice.
“I’m trying to be more in the zone, swinging at better pitches, and him telling what was happening with the pitches, it helped,” Merrill said.
Merrill was a highly regarded shortstop prospect when the Padres moved him to center field during spring training.
This change was made to cover the spot left by Trent Grisham, who was traded to the New York Yankees along with Juan Soto in a major deal last December. Merrill made the opening day lineup and has impressed with both his batting and fielding.
Profar, who is having a standout season at age 31 on a $1 million contract, said, “I’ve said it a lot of times, since I stepped on the field with him in spring training, he showed me that he’s that type of guy.”
Merrill said high-fiving Profar “was cool. But we’re here for each other. It’s not just one person that did it.”
This was Merrill’s second walk-off home run. The Padres have now had 33 comeback wins and eight walk-off victories.
Robert Suarez (8-1) pitched a perfect ninth inning to get the win.
The Padres defeated the Mets for only the second time in seven games this year.
Profar said, “It was big. They’ve been beating us. We got swept over there in New York and they were on the brink of winning another series against us. We had to win this one.”
The Padres hold the NL’s second wild-card spot, while the Mets are trailing Atlanta for the third spot. New York is heading to Arizona for a three-game series against the Diamondbacks, who have risen to the top spot after winning six straight games.
San Diego had previously eliminated the 101-win Mets in a 2022 wild-card matchup and advanced to the NL Championship Series.
The Mets took a 2-0 lead with home runs by J.D. Martinez and Mark Vientos.
After the Padres missed a big scoring opportunity in the seventh inning, Profar hit a home run to right field off José Buttó with one out in the eighth inning and Mason McCoy on base from a walk. It was Profar’s career-high 21st home run and his fifth tying homer this season.
Martinez hit his 15th home run to center field with two outs in the fourth inning.
Left-hander Martín Pérez then walked the last three batters in the Mets’ lineup, loading the bases before Francisco Lindor, who had hit a grand slam and a solo shot in Saturday night’s 7-1 win. Manager Mike Shildt brought in Bryan Hoeing, who struck out Lindor.
Vientos hit his 21st home run to center with one out in the seventh inning.
In the sixth inning, Mets second baseman Jose Iglesias made an impressive play by diving to field Profar’s hard hit ball and, while lying on his stomach, reached back with his left foot to touch the bag and force out Mason McCoy. Lindor, the shortstop, came over to high-five Iglesias and give him a hug.
