SAN DIEGO _ Last week, Manuel Margot became a father. His wife, Rachell, gave birth to the couple's first child. They named their son Diamond.
On Wednesday, Margot and the San Diego Padres had a gem of a game.
In a 6-3 victory over the New York Mets, the rookie center fielder homered in his first at-bat, tripled in his second and contributed to a stellar defensive effort.
Margot's sliding catch to end the top of the fifth followed similar interceptions by left fielder Jabari Blash and right fielder Hunter Renfroe. In the top of the sixth, another rookie upstaged his outfield.
Padres starter Jhoulys Chacin had been lifted with one out and the bases loaded. Buddy Baumann had taken the mound, induced a fly out and issued a run-scoring walk. Craig Stammen, who relieved Baumann, watched as Rene Rivera smoked a grounder past the mound.
Allen Cordoba, who was making his 14th major league start at shortstop, dived to his left, fully extended, and gloved the ball as he landed atop outfield grass. In a blink, he was on his feet again, pivoting and firing a strike to first baseman Wil Myers.
Cordoba, a work in progress at the infield's most demanding position, had the highlight of his young career. The Padres had perhaps the defensive showcase of their season. And, thanks to a 21-year-old Rule 5 draftee, they still had a four-run lead.
The home team had built an early cushion. Jose Pirela, the Padres' first batter, singled. Margot, batting second, drilled his sixth major league home run over the centerfield wall.
In the bottom of the third, he led off with a three-bagger. Myers doubled, scoring Margot. A hit-by-pitch and an infield single loaded the bases. With two outs, yet another rookie delivered.
Rule 5 catcher Luis Torrens scalded a drive to right-center. He missed his first career home run, and a grand slam, by a matter of feet. He settled for his first career triple, a bases-clearer. The Padres led, 6-1.
Chacin made good use of his advantage. The right-hander, whose latest start had been delayed a day due to minor back tightness, allowed a run on a walk and two hits in the second. He did not allow another hit until the sixth.
A trade candidate, the 29-year-old finished with 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball. His home ERA ticked up to 2.05. His overall ERA ticked down to 4.22.
Wilmer Flores homered off Kirby Yates in the eighth, pulling the Mets to within three runs.
In the ninth, top trade target Brad Hand emerged for his second save opportunity in as many appearances. The left-hander converted again, retiring the side.
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