The Mets’ offense was sputtering even before its most prized and expensive player sent a screaming foul ball off his foot.

Manny Machado hit a three-run homer during a five-run seventh inning and the San Diego Padres won 7-1 against the NL East-leading New York Mets, who watched slugger Juan Soto leave the game after fouling a ball off his left foot in the fourth.

Star outfielder Juan Soto took time to speak about his foot injury after the Mets lost to the Padres on Tuesday night.

PITCHING PROBABLES: Mets: Clay Holmes (9-5, 3.40 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 88 strikeouts); Padres: Yu Darvish (0-3, 9.18 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 11 strikeouts) BOTTOM LINE: The San Diego Padres and the New York Mets square off in the last game of a three-game series. The Padres can sweep the series with a win.

Elías Díaz hasn’t hit much this year. He has, however, hit a bit more of late. The Padres’ light-hitting catcher provided some insurance in another tight game on Tuesday night, doubling in two runs in the seventh inning as the floodgates finally opened in a game the Padres won 7-1 in front of a sellout crowd of 45,

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