Escobar hits for cycle, has six RBIs as Mets beat Padres

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Eduardo Escobar hit a two-run triple with two outs in the ninth inning to complete his first cycle, giving him six RBIs in boosting Carlos Carrasco and the New York Mets to an 11-5 win Monday night against the San Diego Padres.

Escobar tripled off Tim Hill over the head of right fielder Nomar Mazara in a four-run ninth. The switch-hitter pulled into third base and pumped his fist as teammates cheered in the dugout nearby.

The third baseman hit a two-run moonshot homer that sailed well over the party deck atop the right field wall off Craig Stammen with no outs in the eighth. It was his fifth.

Escobar also hit a two-run single in the first and a double in the fourth.

It was the 11th cycle in Mets history and the first since Scott Hairston on April 27, 2012.

It was also the first cycle at Petco Park, which opened in 2004.

The Mets, who are an NL-best 38-19, won their third straight game and for the ninth time in 11 games. The Padres, who have the NL's third-best record at 33-22, had their three-game winning streak snapped.

Carrasco (7-1) won his fourth straight start by holding the Padres to two runs and five hits in seven innings while striking out a season-high 10 and walking none. He limited the damage to two innings. Jorge Alfaro hit a leadoff double down the right field line leading off the third and scored on Jurickson Profar's one-out RBI single. Kim Ha-seong singled with two outs in the seventh and scored on Mazara's double.

The Mets tagged Blake Snell (0-3) with three runs in a plodding first inning that took 27 minutes while the left-hander threw 43 pitches. He allowed Starling Marte's one-out single, struck out Francisco Lindor and then issued three straight walks to force in a run. Escobar