Things are never as good, or as bad, as they look on Opening Day.
So the Mets will not average 11 runs a game, and the Padres will not lose every night by 9. New York pounded San Diego 11-2 in the season-opener at Citi Field.
Starter Edinson Volquez struggled through his 3-plus innings, giving up 6 runs on 6 hits. Volquez threw 79 pitches, only 40 of them for strikes. When he did find the strike zone, he got way too much of it.
Anthony Bass relieved Volquez and threw well, only allowing one run and striking out 3 in 3 innings.
New York built a 7-2 lead, but put it away in the 7th inning against Brad Brach. The Padres right-hander gave up a walk and two singles to load the bases, then served up a 2-out grand slam to Collin Cowgill (because, on Opening Day, you can always use a little more Cowgill).
San Diego only mustered 2 runs and 4 hits against Mets starter Jonathon Niese and three relievers. Carlos Quentin drove in Chris Denorfia with a 3rd-inning single. Yonder Alonso hit the Padres' first home run of the year, a solo shot in the 6th inning.
The Padres take Tuesday off, then send Clayton Richard to the mound Wednesday against Matt Harvey.
