Major League Baseball

Padres 6, Mets 1

Published Aug. 17, 2011 7:08 a.m. ET

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Although it's too late for this season, the San Diego Padres continue to flash a resurgent offense.

Nick Hundley had three hits, including two triples, to lead a 15-hit attack as the San Diego Padres defeated the slumping New York Mets 6-1 on Thursday night.

Orlando Hudson drove in two runs and Cameron Maybin hit his eighth homer, a leadoff drive in the seventh, for San Diego, which reached double figures in hits for the second straight game.

The last-place Padres, with the NL's lowest batting average coming in at .238, lead the league in runs scored since the All-Star break.

''I don't think there is one thing,'' said San Diego manager Bud Black. ''If you look at where we were earlier in the year, I think it was bound to turn around. I think there is heightened awareness of situational hitting.''

Hundley has been on a tear since he returned Friday from his second stint on the disabled list. Hundley has hit in all four games, going 9 for 16.

''I'm not going to make a living out of that,'' Hundley said about his triples. ''It was awesome, but it was a miracle.''

Hundley's second triple leading the eighth inning came off Mets starter Mike Pelfrey, who is scheduled to start Friday against Milwaukee.

''It was weird seeing him come out of the pen,'' Hundley said. ''It was like, 'Who is this guy?' To take a swing like that off an ace like that gives me a lot of confidence.''

The right-handed Pelfrey left his last start on Saturday at Arizona after four innings when he was hit by a line drive on the right elbow. Since X-rays were negative and Pelfrey only threw 50 pitches, manager Terry Collins wanted to get him some work.

''It felt good to get back on the mound,'' said Pelfrey, who only faced three batters, threw eight pitches and allowed a one-out RBI single by Alberto Gonzalez before he was replaced.

Rookie Cory Luebke made a 2-0 first-inning lead stand up as he pitched six strong innings and combined with Chad Qualls, Luke Gregerson and Erik Hamren on a four-hitter.

Luebke (5-6) allowed one run and three hits, struck out five and walked three.

Luebke struggled with his control early, walking two batters in the first inning and another in the second before he settled down

''That first inning, I was thinking, 'Oh, boy. Here we go again,' '' Luebke said. (Pitching coach) Darren (Balsley) saw something on video and noticed that I was standing behind the rubber and rushing. It was a nice little fix.''

The Mets, who have dropped 12 of 16 overall, lost for the 11th time in 14 games at Petco Park. New York, which won the first game of the three-game series on Monday night, has never won a set at Petco since the ballpark opened in 2004.

New York starter Jonathon Niese (11-10) surrendered 10 hits over six innings, but allowed just three runs, two coming in the first. The left-hander struck out three and walked none.

''It was unfortunate they didn't hit the ball particularly hard,'' Pelfrey said. ''Just kind of hit them where we weren't. I guess it was just one of those days.''

Luebke hit Lucas Duda leading off the fourth, leading to the Mets' only run.

Jason Bay flied out and Scott Hairston bounced into a fielder's choice, but Ronny Paulino followed with a base hit and Ruben Tejada added an RBI double. Luebke then struck out Niese to end the inning.

Hundley and Hudson each had an RBI single in the first. Aaron Cunningham, the only Padres starter without a hit, added a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.

Hundley and Fred Kendall (1973) are the only Padres catchers to triple twice in a game.

NOTES: With Jason Isringhausen getting his 300th career save Monday night at San Diego, the Mets plan to use RHPs Bobby Parnell and Pedro Beato in the closer role. Isringhausen might be used as an eighth-inning setup man, New York manager Terry Collins said. ... Tejada's RBI double in the fourth extended the Mets' streak to 14 consecutive games with at least one double. ... Rookie RHP Dillon Gee (10-3), whose ERA has risen from 2.86 to 4.07 in his last 10 starts, will face the Padres for the first time in Wednesday's finale. Gee has failed to pitch beyond five innings in three of his last four starts. ... Mat Latos (6-11, 3.80 ERA) pitches for San Diego.

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