SAN DIEGO — Austin Warren has become indispensable to the Mets bullpen based on his versatility and success, but Saturday night brought his most glaring hiccup this season.
Given a one-run lead to protect, the right-hander got two fast outs in the seventh inning.
A soft single followed before Warren served up a two-run homer to Freddy Fermin that became the margin of defeat in the 3-2 loss to the Padres.
The Mets, after two straight victories in which the lineup produced, reverted to a familiar pattern of silence.
The loss left the Mets needing a win Sunday to reach .500 for the road trip.
Warren’s letdown was an anomaly for a bullpen that began the day with a 3.19 ERA that ranked third in the National League and fifth in MLB.
The right-hander had pitched to a 1.33 ERA, filling a variety of roles, from opener to long relief to higher leverage.
Nolan McLean recovered from an elevated pitch count early to give the Mets six innings, allowing one earned run on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
McLean snapped a string of three straight starts in which he failed to complete six innings and lowered his ERA to 3.98, departing after 101 pitches.
Griffin Canning, who pitched last season for the Mets before undergoing June surgery for a ruptured Achilles, provided resistance against his former team.
The right-hander surrendered one earned run on three hits and two walks over five innings.
Brett Baty’s RBI single in the second gave the Mets a 1-0 lead.
Marcus Semien walked and A.J. Ewing singled to begin the rally before Baty delivered for his 25th RBI of the season.
It was a welcome contribution from Baty following his 3-for-16 (.188) start to the road trip.
Fernando Tatis Jr. stroked an RBI single in the third that tied it 1-1.
McLean created trouble by walking Sung-Mun Song leading off the inning.
After Song stole second, Tatis grounded a shot that hit off second base and deflected past Semien for the run.
McLean walked Ty France with two outs, but escaped by striking out Manny Machado.
Even so, McLean ran his pitch count to 62 pitches by the end of the inning.
Semien singled in the fourth before he was thrown out attempting to steal second base.
Ewing followed with a walk before Canning struck out Mark Vientos to end the inning.
Song singled leading off the fifth and reached third following a sacrifice bunt and Tatis’ infield single.
With two outs, the Padres attempted a double steal — with Song breaking for the plate on a delay.
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Luis Torrens pump-faked to second and held the ball, catching Song in a rundown, with McLean applying the tag for the out.
Semien homered leading off the seventh to give the Mets a 2-1 lead.
The blast was Semien’s seventh this season.
Semien began the day in an 0-for-14 drought, but reached base three times on this night.
Warren got two outs in the seventh before Song singled.
Fermin blasted a first-pitch sinker over the left field fence.
Carson Benge and Bo Bichette each singled with one out in the eighth.
Juan Soto hit a smash that was caught by Song, and Benge was caught off second base to end the inning.
Ewing walked with two outs in the ninth against fireballing Mason Miller before Vientos struck out to end it.
