Light-hitting catcher Freddy Fermin hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning off Austin Warren to send the Mets to a 3-2 loss Saturday in San Diego, spoiling a good effort by Nolan McLean.

Carson Benge and Bo Bichette hit back-to-back singles in the eighth to give Juan Soto a chance to be a hero, and he hit the ball hard, but it was caught by second baseman Sung-Mun Song, who threw to second to double off Benge to end the inning. Mason Miller struck out Mark Vientos with a runner on first to end the game.

David Frerker-Imagn Images

McLean allowed one run on three hits, walked three, and struck out five over six innings to lower his ERA to 3.98. He threw 62 of a career-high 101 pitches for strikes. The only run scored off of him came on a bad break.

Fernando Tatis Jr. grounded a ball up the middle that hit second base and caromed into the outfield for an RBI single that tied it at 1-1 in the third. If the ball didn’t hit the bag, Marcus Semien was set to field it, and the play likely would have ended with an out at first and a runner on third with two outs. The next batter flew out to left.

But McLean also got help from his defense. In the fifth, Bichette made a diving backhanded stop in the hole at short. It was an infield hit for Tatis, but Bichette’s play kept a runner on second from advancing. Bichette winced and grabbed at his left shoulder, but stayed in the game after a visit from the trainer and Carlos Mendoza.

Later in the inning, the Padres tried to execute a double steal of second and home, but Luis Torrens faked the throw to second and caught Song in a run-down between third and home. He was tagged out by McLean.

Semien hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the seventh, his seventh of the year, to give the Mets (28-36) a 2-1 lead. Brett Baty connected for a two-out RBI single in the second.

Stat of the Game

Entering the game, the Mets had the toughest remaining strength of schedule in the National League, per SNY. The Mets’ opponents’ winning percentage is .537.

Player of the Game

McLean has given up two runs total in his last two starts over 11 innings. He has struck out 82 over 72 1/3 innings for the season.

On Deck

The Mets will try to break even in the finale of their six-game road trip. Sean Manaea (0-1, 5.08 ERA) will start opposite Randy Vásquez (5-3, 3.31 ERA). The game starts at 4:10 p.m. ET and it will air on SNY.