Friday's game was a complete 180 of Thursday's as the Mets could not overcome Paul Blackburn's injury-shortened outing in their 7-0 loss to the Padres in San Diego.

A day after the Mets scored eight runs on 17 hits, they were shut out and picked up only two hits. It's the 11th time the Mets have been shut out this season.

The Mets' (67-62) loss and the Braves win puts New York 2.5 games behind Atlanta for the final Wild Card spot.

Here are the takeaways...

- Blackburn simply didn't have it on Friday. After allowing a leadoff homer to Luis Arraez just his fourth home run of the season, the Mets right-hander pitched out of trouble in the first but Kyle Higashioka ambushed Blackburn's first-pitch cutter and deposited it 348 feet into the left field stands to increase San Diego's lead to 3-0.

Jake Cronenworth's two-out single put the Padres up 4-0 before the second inning mercifully ended. Blackburn allowed nine hits in the first two innings. He gave up seven hits to the first nine batters and even when swings resulted in outs, the Padres hitters were all over Blackburn's pitches.

Unfortunately, Blackburn would not have a chance to give the Mets length as his pitching arm was struck by a line drive in the third inning and he had to exit the game.

Blackburn pitched just 2.1 innings (59 pitches/36 strikes) and allowed five runs on 10 hits and struck out just one batter.

- With Blackburn out, the Mets bullpen had to put in a lot of work. Ryne Stanek was the first out of the pen and allowed an inherited runner to score before the Padres posted one more run in the third to go up 6-0.

Danny Young pitched two scoreless innings while Adam Ottavino pitched one scoreless inning before allowing a run in the eighth. The Mets' bullpen combined to limit the Padres to two runs on six hits and two walks through 5.2 innings pitched.

- On the flip side, Joe Musgrove gave the Mets fits all game in his best start this season. He took a perfect game into the fifth inning before Starling Marte lined a one-out double. He got through seven innings in just 75 pitches (58 strikes), allowing one hit, no walks and striking out nine batters.

- Francisco Lindor hit a double with two outs in the ninth inning to pick up the Mets' second hit -- and the team's second baserunner -- of the game. The hit also extended Lindor's on-base streak to 22 games.

- Mark Vientos finished 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, ending his 10-game hitting streak. In total, the Mets struck out 14 times.

Game MVP: Joe Musgrove

After Friday's performance, Musgrove has now pitched 20 consecutive scoreless innings against the Mets dating back to Game 3 of the 2022 Wild Card round.

Here are the takeaways...

Game MVP: Joe Musgrove

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