The Mets bounced back from a bad series in San Fransisco to win the first game of their series against the Padres. (Box Score)

Pitching

The Mets’ “ace,” Jason Vargas, took the mound for this one. He was sensational over six innings with the trade winds swirling around his name.

Vargas pitched a scoreless inning which featured a strikeout of Fernando Tatis Jr. He also worked around a walk to Manny Machado by getting Hunter Renfroe to flyout.

He struck out Franmil Reyes and Francisco Mejia as part of a one-two-three inning. He retired the side in order in the third as well. He also got his second strikeout of Tatis.

In the fourth, Vargas walked Machado once again but Renfroe immediately grounded into a double play to eliminate the threat.

The fifth inning was when Vargas gave up his first hit, a single to Eric Hosmer. He had walked Reyes immediately prior to that, giving San Diego two baserunners. Vargas settled in though to get Mejia to line out and Luis Urias to hit into a forceout. Then he retired the pitcher, Chris Paddack, and that was all he needed.

He began the sixth with another strikeout of Tatis. He proceeded to walk Manuel Margot but got Machado to strike out and Wilson Ramos threw out Margot attempting to steal. That ended Vargas’ night, and his final line was: 6 IP, H, 4 BB, 8 K.

Tyler Bashlor began the seventh inning. He retired the first two guys to face him but then gave up a hit to Mejia and walked Urias. The Mets went to Robert Gsellman who got Wil Myers to fly out and end the inning.

Gsellman stayed on for the eighth as well. He gave up a hit to Tatis to lead off the inning. Tatis stole second and Margot followed with an infield single. Gsellman managed to limit the damage though, getting Machado to pop out. Renfroe hit a sac fly but Gsellman struck out Reyes to end the inning.

Justin Wilson began the ninth with a walk of Hosmer and Mejia. Mickey Callaway did not mess around and immediately went to Edwin Diaz. Diaz gave up a two-out double to Tatis but managed to lock it down for the save and got the Mets a win.

Mets pitching walked seven tonight but somehow managed to give up just two runs in their win.

Offense

Robinson Cano. That’s it, that was the offense.

The Mets did not do much at all against Paddack for the first few innings. He walked Pete Alonso and gave up a hit to Cano with two outs in the first but Ramos could not cash them in.

In the fourth, Cano led off the inning with a towering shot to right. It was his first of the night and second hit of the night.

The Mets did not do much again against Paddack until the sixth inning. He walked Alonso and up came Cano. Cano hit his second homer of the day and half as many as he did in the first half. Ramos followed with a single to knock out Paddack. Amed Rosario singled with two outs but nothing else came of the inning.

In the seventh, Jeff McNeil singled but was thrown out trying to take second base. With two outs, Alonso walked again to bring up Cano. Cano hit his third homer of the day, this time off a lefty. According to Jeremy Frank on Twitter, Cano raised his OPS by 51 points in just one night. Many more nights like this would do a lot to help boost confidence in Cano moving forward.

McNeil had two hits again tonight after a rare hitless game on Sunday. His slash line is now .342/.402/.508.

On Deck

The Mets continue their series with the Padres tomorrow night. Noah Syndergaard (7-4, 4.36 ERA) will take the mound against another Padres youngster in Dinelson Lamet (0-2, 5.14 ERA).

The game will be begin at 7:10 p.m. ET. It will be televised on SNY, and broadcast on WCBS 880 and ESPN 1050.