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Syndergaard dominates Padres lineup in 4-0 win

The Sports Xchange

July 28, 2015 at 9:41 pm.

Jul 28, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Jul 28, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Citi Field. Photo Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK — Rookie right-handed pitcher Noah Syndergaard retired the first 18 batters he faced Tuesday night and ended up allowing three hits over eight shutout innings as the New York Mets beat the San Diego Padres 4-0 at Citi Field.

The win was the third straight for the Mets (52-48) while the Padres (47-53) had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Syndergaard (5-5) struck out nine in lowering his ERA to 2.70. He walked one batter or fewer in eight of his 13 career starts, including zero on Tuesday, and threw eight innings in three of his last five starts.

Syndergaard walked a career-high five batters in his previous start against the Nationals last Wednesday, but it didn’t take him long Tuesday to build a buzz amongst a crowd of 26,034 eager to see the first perfect game in Mets history.

The Padres didn’t come close to a hit the first time through the order. The crowd murmured when Syndergaard snared a liner by center fielder Wil Venable leading off the fourth. Syndergaard received an ovation upon stepping to the plate in the fifth and every two-strike count on the Padres in the sixth was greeted with rhythmic clapping.

But Venable ended the suspense on the first pitch of the seventh, which he laced up the middle for a clean single. Third baseman Yangervis Solarte followed with an infield single when shortstop Ruben Tejada lost control of the ball trying to begin a double play.

The stoic Syndergaard needed just five pitches to wriggle out of the jam, first by getting right fielder Matt Kemp to pop out and then by inducing left fielder Justin Upton to hit into a double play.

First baseman Lucas Duda provided Syndergaard all the offense he needed with a two-run homer in the first inning. Right fielder Curtis Granderson added some insurance with a two-run homer in the eighth.

Fantasy Update: Syndergaard is now a must-start pitcher every week and is emerging as a force.

NOTES: Major League Baseball announced Tuesday afternoon that Mets RHP Jenrry Mejia has been suspended 162 games, effective immediately, for a second failed PED test. Mejia tested positive for Stanozolol and Boldenone. He was suspended for 80 games earlier this season for failing a test for Stanozolol. Mejia returned July 7 and threw 7 1/3 scoreless innings. He is the first major leaguer to fail two PED tests. … To make room for RHP Tyler Clippard, whom the Mets acquired Monday, New York optioned RHP Logan Verrett to Triple-A Las Vegas. … Padres OF Wil Myers, who underwent wrist surgery June 18, is experiencing soreness and won’t resume swinging a bat for at least five days. … Padres RHP Brandon Morrow, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 2 due to a shoulder injury, will make his second rehab start for Triple-A El Paso on Thursday.

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