SAN DIEGO A bad night for the Mets turned potentially brutal as examining his right hand. Moments earlier David Peralta smashed a 100-mph line drive that deflected off the Mets pitcher and turned into the first out of the inning with Jose Iglesias fielding the ball and throwing to first. Blackburns pitching hand, as he shielded his head, caught the brunt of Peraltas line drive, forcing him to depart on a night that was already worth forgetting, with the Padres on his pitches almost from the start. Paul Blackburn was hit hard and then was removed after getting hit on the hand with a line drive in the third inning of the Mets 7-0 lo s to the Padres on Aug. 23, 2024. USA TODAY Sports via Tyler Jay Jersey Reuters Con The Mets lost 7-0 at Petco Park and fell 2 games behind Atlanta for the NLs third wild card, but in the larger picture there is the question of filling out a rotation. Blackburn, according to the Mets, departed with a contusion on the hand. Initial X-rays were negative and Blackburn will receive a CT scan on Saturday. Explore More Its definitely swollen and there is some pain in there, but I have full mobility in my hand, Blackburn said. The Mets starting pitching depth is limited because of injuries. Tylor Megill, who has struggled in two stints for the team this season, is the primary option at Triple-A Syracuse if Blackburn cant take his next turn. But manager Carlos Mendoza said he wasnt looking that far ahead yet. Paul Blackburn, right, talks to catcher Francisco Alvarez after getting hit by a line out by the Padres David Peralta during the third inning of the Mets lo s on Aug. 23, 2024. AP Its too early to tell, but theres a lot of names and [Megill] is one of them, Mendoza said. Blackburn was acquired at the trade deadline from Oakland by the Mets after Kodai Senga (calf) and Christian Scott (elbow) hit the injured list. Blackburn allowed 10 hits and five earned runs over 2 / innings. Luis Arraez homered leading off the game against him and Kyle Higashioka delivered a two-run blast against him in the second. Luis Arraez homered to lead off the game for the Padres. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con The good pitches I made got hit and I thought the bad pitches I made got hit, Blackburn said. It was just one of those days I felt I was searching for anything to create some swing and mi s all and all just not good. The Mets dug into their bullpen after Blackburns departure, with Ryne Stanek pre sed to pitch 1 / innings in which he allowed one earned run. Danny Young worked the next two innings scorele s and Adam Ottavino worked the seventh and eighth and surrendered one run. All the while, Joe Musgrove who dominated the Mets in Game 3 of the 2022 NL wild-card series at Citi Field was close to untouchable. Padres starter Joe Musgrove to ses the ball with his glove to first baseman Jake Cronenworth for the out on the Mets Francisco Lindor. AP The right-hander allowed just one hit over seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts. Starling Marte and Francisco Lindor accounted for the Mets only two hits, both with doubles. We had a hard time picking up [Musgroves] breaking ball, the spin, Mendoza said. But the cutter and the location, he was on today. The Mets mi sed an opportunity to move seven games above .500, which would have matched their season high. Umpire Mike Muchlinski signals safe as Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) beats the throw to Mets first baseman Pete Alonso during the first inning at Petco Park. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con There are still eight games remaining on this road trip, with the sizzling Diamondbacks awaiting after the Mets finish their series with the Padres on Sunday. David Peterson and Jose Quintana are the starting pitchers the next two days as the Mets look to recover from Friday nights shellacking. The Mets won Thursdays series opener with strong bullpen work and late-inning offense. Blackburn on this night allowed three hits in the first inning, falling into a 1-0 hole on Arraezs homer leading off. Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts each singled in the inning, but Blackburn escaped by retiring Jackson Merrill. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Peralta singled leading off the second and Higashiokas homer gave the Padres a 3-0 lead. But the Padres ignited another rally in the inning against Blackburn, with singles by Mason McCoy, Arraez and Jake Cronenworth, the last of which extended the Mets deficit to 4-0. Machado singled for the Padres sixth hit of the inning before Blackburn struck out Bogaerts for the final out. Merrills grounder to first base leading off the third should have been the first out, but in an apparent miscommunication with Blackburn covering the bag, Pete Alonso kept the ball and was beaten to the base. Starling Marte had one of two Mets hits in their lo s on Aug. 23, 2024. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Peraltas shot off Blackburns hand followed. I just went into defense mode there and kind of deflected it, Blackburn said. The Mets didnt get a base runner until the fifth, after Musgrove had retired the first 13 batters he faced: Marte smashed a double to right field, but was left stranded. It turned out to be the Mets only base runner until the ninth, when Lindor doubled with two outs. Robert Gasser Jersey