lam.Its just one game, but Im just trying to go up there and put together a good at-bat, said Schimpf, who has spent parts of ei

NEW YORK -- If rookie Ryan Schimpf keeps hitting home runs at this pace, he could play a key role in the Padres future.The 28-year-old second baseman homered twice and drove in six runs as San Diego beat the reeling New York Mets 8-6 on Friday night.I want him to kind of get lost in the game hes competing in and the day and not think about what it means in the future, Padres manager Andy Green said. I think if youre worried about your future, you dont do nearly as well in the present.Fellow rookie Jabari Blash and Christian Bethancourt also homered early for the Padres, who handed the Mets their fourth straight defeat and sixth in seven games. The defending NL champions (57-58) fell below .500 for the first time since April 17.One day after getting swept at home by last-place Arizona, the Mets again failed to look like legitimate wild-card contenders. Beneath a dark sky with lightning flashing, the Padres lineup provided quick thunder against starter Logan Verrett (3-8).San Diego, which has alternated wins and losses since July 26, jumped out to a 5-0 lead six batters into the game -- including a grand slam by Schimpf.Travis Jankowski opened the game with a single, and Wil Myers and Yangervis Solarte walked to load the bases.After a popout to left field, Schimpf sent a 1-0 fastball just over the center-field wall for his first career slam.Its just one game, but Im just trying to go up there and put together a good at-bat, said Schimpf, who has spent parts of eight seasons in the minors. Just trying not to do too much and not think about numbers.As Mets fans began to chant Rainout! Rainout! hoping for a reprieve, Blash hit an opposite-field homer into the visitors bullpen to make it 5-0.The threatening clouds passed, and inclement weather couldnt save New York.Travis dArnaud, who had three hits, got the Mets on the board in the second, lining a two-run homer to left off Padres starter Paul Clemens.San Diego answered immediately in the third. Schimpf sent a two-run shot into the right-field upper deck, his 12th home run in 47 games.I was just up there trying to get a good pitch to drive and I got two of them, so its good to do something and get the win, Schimpf said.Two batters later, Bethancourt chased Verrett with a solo home run, putting the Padres up 8-2.The four homers allowed by Verrett, who gave up eight runs in 2 2/3 innings, were the most by a Mets starter since Bartolo Colon also served up four in April 2014.Im disappointed in the game today, Verrett said. I put our team in a hole.Clemens (2-2) pitched five innings of three-run ball, and Brandon Maurer worked a flawless ninth for his fifth save.Jay Bruce had an RBI single in the fifth, and New York rallied in the sixth against San Diegos bullpen.After dArnaud led off with a single, Alejandro De Aza was hit in the neck by Buddy Baumanns 87 mph fastball. De Aza was OK, and Matt Reynolds followed with an RBI double. Ty Kelly had a run-scoring single to make it 8-5.Left-hander Brad Hand struck out Curtis Granderson, and pinch-hitter Wilmer Flores grounded into a fielders choice that scored Reynolds.They did not roll over at all. They fought and made it a heck of a baseball game, Green said. A lot of teams easily roll over when theyre down 8-2 and just kind of concede the game.A trio of Mets relievers combined for 6 1/3 perfect innings with eight strikeouts.SHUT `EM DOWNThe Padres have won 133 consecutive games when leading after eight innings, the longest active streak in the majors.TRAINERS ROOMPadres: RHP Tyson Ross (right shoulder, right ankle) will throw a bullpen Friday or Saturday. He is inching closer to pitching live batting practice. ... CF Jon Jay (right forearm) will return to San Diego on Sunday and have tests done on Monday. Green hopes Jay will then be cleared to begin swinging a bat.Mets: INF Jose Reyes (oblique) continued his rehab assignment with Class A Brooklyn, going 2 for 5 with a double, an RBI and two runs while playing seven innings at third base.UP NEXTPadres: RHP Jarred Cosart (0-1, 5.79 ERA) makes his third start for San Diego since being acquired from Miami. He has allowed five runs on 11 hits and six walks in 8 1/3 innings with the Padres.Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (7-5, 2.35) goes for his fourth straight quality start. He is 2-1 with a 1.62 ERA since the All-Star break. Gary Carter Mets Jersey . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Jason Vargas Mets Jersey . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph. http://www.metsbaseballauthentic.com/david-wright-mets-jersey/ . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Amed Rosario Jersey . Now that hes hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league. Keith Hernandez Mets Jersey . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. Kristaps Porzingis has become a matchup problem in just his second season with the New York Knicks.The 7-3 Porzingis is listed as a power forward, but with his ability to hit mid to long-range jumpers, score on tip-ins and dunks and run the floor like a gazelle, he has created headaches for opposing coaches and their players.The Atlanta Hawks (9-3) will attempt to slow down Porzingis and the Knicks (5-7) Sunday at Madison Square Garden.Porzingis is averaging 20.8 points and 6.8 rebounds. Hes shooting 49 percent from the field, including 40 percent from 3-point range. In a 105-102 win over Detroit on Wednesday, Porzingis scored a career-high 35 points.Porzingis, who finished second to Karl-Anthony Towns for Rookie of the Year last season, is earning praise from coaches around the league.Hes (Porzingis) definitely going to be one of the best players in the league very soon, Washington Wizards coach Scott Brooks told the New York Post. He can score (from) so many spots on the floor. For a guy whos 7-3, puts it on the floor, left, right, mid-range game, step back 3s, gets lobs, offensive rebounds.Hes a great player now. Hes definitely on his way to being an All-Star. Its pretty remarkable to improve so quickly, he said. Hes got point-guard moves. Hes even got a crossover (dribble).On Friday, Porzingis announced he will donate $500 for each of his blocked shots for the rest of the season to the RENS, a New York-area, not-for-profit youth basketball program. Hes averaging 1.2 blocks.The Hawks are one of the early season surprises. Led by power forward Paul Millsap (17.3 ppg, 8 rpg), Atlanta is second in the Eastern Conference annd leads the league in turnovers forced (17.dddddddddddd6 per game) and ranks second in field-goal percentage (48.0), assists (26.2) and steals (10.2).Dwight Howard has resurrected his career in Atlanta after several pedestrian seasons with the Houston Rockets and one year with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 31-year-old center is fourth in the league in field-goal percentage (.606) and third in rebounding (12.9).The Hawks could be without guard Thabo Sefolosha, who has missed the last two games with a knee sprain. The pesky Sefolosha is third in the league in steals (2.60). Former Knick Tim Hardaway Jr. should get most of those minutes if Sefolosha is a no-go.Center Tiago Splitters return from a Grade 2 hamstring strain that has forced him to miss the start of the season is uncertain.Atlanta is coming off a 100-96 loss to Charlotte on Friday in which they squandered a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. Charlotte took control of the game after Howard was ejected for a flagrant 2 foul with 5:38 remaining and the Hawks leading 89-86. He landed a hard elbow to the jaw of Cody Zeller as the two were battling for rebound position. From there, the Hornets scored nine straight points.That was a momentum shift right there, Millsap said. It just completely turned the game around. They took that and fueled it to the fire, the crowd gets into it and theyre at home. What can you say?Howard insisted the foul was not intentional. Thats basketball, he said.Atlanta plays six of its next seven games on the road. ' ' '