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D'Arnaud's hit lifts surging Mets over Padres 5-4

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SAN DIEGO (AP) Travis d'Arnaud returned to San Diego, the site of his major league debut, and recorded another memorable moment.

D'Arnaud's go-ahead single in the ninth inning lifted the New York Mets to their fourth straight win, 5-4 over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

The Mets won for the ninth time in 11 games as they began a 10-game trip and matched their longest winning streak of the season.

D'Arnaud played his first game for the Mets at Petco Park on Aug. 17, 2013. That night he went 0 for 2 with two walks.

''That was my first thought all day today,'' he said.

On Friday he had three hits and two RBIs as the Mets picked up where they left off before the All-Star break. After a slow start, d'Arnaud is showing the promise that has long made him among the Mets' top prospects.

''I'm not thinking about mechanics anymore,'' d'Arnaud said. ''I'm more focused in on the ball that is 90 miles an hour coming at me.''

And the Mets stayed hot, after an 8-2 homestand.

''That's big,'' d'Arnaud said. ''We had good momentum before the All-Star break happened, and we won tonight and we're going to keep it going.''

Jeurys Familia (2-3) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the win. Jenrry Mejia worked the ninth for his 11 save in 13 chances.

Joaquin Benoit (3-2) took the loss as he pitched the ninth inning with closer Huston Street unavailable. Street was dealt to the Angels in a six-player trade that was announced after the game.

''It's tough to see guys go,'' Padres third baseman Chase Headley said. ''I think guys know that's part of it.''

New York had seized a 4-0 lead but Bartolo Colon couldn't hold it and left the game after giving up four runs in San Diego's fifth inning.

Colon was derailed by a sour stomach and a headache.

''He didn't feel very good,'' Mets manager Terry Collins said. ''The fifth inning wore him down a little bit. Usually as the game goes on he gets better.''

Curtis Granderson drew a leadoff walk in the ninth and moved to third on groundouts by Daniel Murphy and David Wright. After Lucas Duda was walked intentionally, d'Arnaud punched a single to right field for his second RBI and third hit of the game.

''I just try to keep my eye on the ball and put a swing on it,'' d'Arnaud said. ''Fortunately, it found a gap.''

The Mets had gotten the go-ahead run into scoring position in the eighth inning on Ruben Tejada's two-out double, but Bobby Abreu grounded out and failed to get a hit for the 18th straight time as a pinch-hitter.

Colon was strong early, which was different for him. He had allowed a first-inning run in five consecutive starts, before shutting down the Padres over the first 4 1-3 innings.

The Padres snapped a 25-inning scoreless skid when they scored four in the fifth.

Will Venable opened with a single, Jake Goebbert walked, and they advanced on a double steal. Chris Nelson, who joined the Padres earlier Friday from Triple A El Paso, singled in Venable.

Alexi Amarista, who had three hits, followed with a run-scoring single to slice the deficit in half. After Nelson and Amarista moved up on Seth Smith's grounder to first, Headley tied the game with a two-run single.

New York extended its lead to 4-0 in the third when Duda scored after starting the inning with a double. D'Arnaud drove in Duda with his second single of the night.

The Mets struck early with three first-inning runs as Ian Kennedy struggled after getting two outs. Kennedy, who had surrendered just two runs in 21 innings, allowed three hits, nailed Duda with a pitch, and walked Kirk Nieuwenhuis.

''It showed the guys we are still in that zone right now,'' Collins said. ''It was a good first inning. He's been pitching good.''

The key blow was Juan Lagares' single that scored Duda and d'Arnaud, who was aboard on a single that drove in Granderson.

''He's made some adjustments at the plate,'' Collins said of d'Arnaud. ''His confidence is soaring and he is seeing the ball really good.''

NOTES: Padres RHP Andrew Cashner, sidelined by a sore right shoulder, will throw on Saturday. ... 2B Jedd Gyorko will play this weekend for Triple A El Paso as he rebounds from plantar fasciitis in his left foot. ... Padres SS Everth Cabrera (left hamstring strain) is expected to leave Monday for a rehabilitation assignment. ... Mets RHP Jon Niese (left shoulder strain) threw a bullpen session on Friday. ... The Mets are 4-2-1 in their last seven series. ... Mets RHP Dillon Gee (4-1, 2.56) faces Padres RHP Tyson Ross (7-10, 2.85) on Saturday night.