QUEENS, NY — Carried by Brandon Nimmo's three-run home run as a part of a four-run third inning, and Jonah Tong's bounceback gem, the Mets took their first series since winning two of three from the Detroit Tigers from Sept. 1-3 by defeating the San Diego Padres 6-1 in Thursday afternoon's rubber game at Citi Field.

Pete Alonso homered in a fourth consecutive game and drove in a pair of runs, while Juan Soto went 2-for-4 and drove in his 100th run of the season in the win.

The result momentarily pads the Mets' (79-74) lead for the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League to two games over the Arizona Diamondbacks, who were off on Thursday.

Tong, who allowed six runs in just two-thirds of an inning on Friday night against the Texas Rangers, befuddled Padres hitters for five

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