NEW YORK, April 4 (UPI) -- Eric Stults and five relievers combined on a five-hitter Thursday in pacing the San Diego Padres to a 2-1 win over the New York Mets.
Stults (1-0) struck out seven while giving up three hits and two walks over five innings. The Padres' bullpen kept New York off the scoreboard until John Buck led off the ninth with his second home run of the season. That came off Huston Street, who got the next three batters for his first save.
San Diego relievers Brad Brach, Joe Thatcher, Dale Thayer and Luke Gregerson, who struck out three in 1 1/3 innings, all contributed to the win.
New York starter Dillon Gee (0-1) allowed only three hits and one run in 6 1/3 innings in taking the loss. All the hits came in the fourth inning when Jedd Gyorko doubled in Mark Kotsay, who had singled and advanced to third on a Yonder Alonso base hit.
The Padres went up 2-0 when Chris Denorfia, who led off the eighth with a walk, scored on a wild pitch.
