Mark Vientos delivered a grand slam and Ronny Mauricio hit a game-tying ninth-inning home run but the Mets fell to the Padres on Monday in San Diego.

The Mets fought. With the Padres. With plate umpire Emil Jimenez, repeatedly. And right until their final swing.

New York Mets corner infielder Mark Vientos is in the midst of a disappointing season, one in which he's failed to build on last year's momentum. Predictably, Vientos has found himself the subject of recent trade rumors leading up to the July 31 deadline -- a dynamic he opted to talk about with reporters on Monday.

Ronny Mauricio shines with a four-hit game and develops as a clubhouse leader through the Mets' English-language programme.

Even in the best of times, the Mets rarely make things easy.

That’s not even all of it: Huascar Brazoban’s misplay allowed the Padres to score the tying run. Padres starter Dylan Cease was whacked in the head by a one-hopper and stayed in the game. He wasn’t even the only pitcher to eat grass Monday.

There’s nothing like a splash of cold water to wake someone up. Whether it’s the shock of an unexpected bucket of ice water or the jolt you get jumping into an

Look no further than the production the Mets have received from their young players as the team’s biggest developing storyline since the All-Star break.