SAN DIEGO — Jeremy Hefner likely will get the boot from the Mets’ rotation by next weekend, but certainly not based on performance.
If “Hef” hasn’t been the Mets’ playmate of the month, he’s been good enough — it’s just that Johan Santana probably wants his old job back. The Mets will at least have a dependable sixth starter in waiting.
Hefner’s six strong innings last night continued the Mets’ starting pitching resurgence in a 6-2 victory over the Padres at Petco Park.
Mike Baxter entered the Mets record book by walking five times to establish a franchise record in a nine-inning game, and Daniel Murphy finished 4-for-4 to lead the offensive attack.
In the best outing of his major league career, the 26-year-old Hefner allowed one run on five hits with two strikeouts and no walks as the Mets (53-55) won for the third time in four games.
The Mets will go for the series victory today, when rookie Matt Harvey makes his third major league start — all on this 11-road game road trip — and faces Staten Island native Jason Marquis. Last night’s victory assured the Mets of a winning road trip.
Hefner is expected to step aside by next weekend with Santana scheduled for a return from the disabled list, but the rookie made a solid impression on the Mets during his three starts in Santana’s place, going 1-1 with a 3.57 ERA.
“Regardless of what happens with Johan coming off the DL, I’m here for the team,” Hefner said. “Johan is a way better pitcher than I am, so we’ll see what happens. I just try to go out and give 100 percent.
“I’ve worked really hard to get not just where I’m at now, but my entire career. I think it’s just all my hard work is kind of paying off a little bit.”
Santana, who is recovering from a sprained right ankle, is scheduled to pitch three innings today for Single-A Brooklyn before starting Saturday against the Braves. Hefner could be moved to the bullpen, filling the long relief role that was vacated with Miguel Batista’s release last month, or returned to Triple-A Buffalo.
“[Hefner] has done a great job,” manager Terry Collins said. “We’ve got a full week to find out what happens.”
Hefner allowed a run in the third on Alexi Amarista’s RBI single that pulled the Padres within 4-1, but then got rolling again, retiring 10 of the final 12 batters he faced. The righty allowed a leadoff single to Amarista in the sixth, but with Josh Edgin warming up in the bullpen, retired the next three batters to escape the inning.
Edgin then entered to fire two scoreless innings before Bobby Parnell began the ninth and allowed a leadoff homer to Chase Headley. After Parnell put two more runners on base with one out, Frank Francisco entered and recorded his 19th save by getting John Baker to hit into a double play. It was Francisco’s first appearance since going on the disabled list on June 24.
The Mets got an insurance run in the seventh, after Baxter walked for the fourth time. Josh Thole brought in the run with an RBI groundout, giving the Mets a 5-1 lead. An inning later, Ike Davis singled home another run. The Mets left 13 runners on base, preventing the game from becoming a runaway.
Jordany Valdespin’s two-run double in the second gave the Mets a 4-0 lead and knocked out starter Edinson Volquez, after he had walked four and allowed two hits in the inning.
Davis singled leading off the inning and went to second on a passed ball before Murphy and Baxter walked in succession to load the bases. Thole later walked to force in a run and Ruben Tejada’s walk with two outs extended the Mets’ lead to 2-0. Valdespin’s double followed, giving the rookie 25 RBIs this season. Brad Boxberger replaced Volquez and struck out David Wright to end the inning.