Yu Darvish of the San Diego Padres throws a pitch at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City, the US on October 7, 2022. Photo: AFP

San Diego pitcher Joe Musgrove was overwhelming in a one-hit victory Sunday as the Padres blanked the New York Mets 6-0 to advance in the Major League Baseball playoffs.

The Padres defeated the Mets 2-1 in their best-of-three National League wildcard playoff series to secure a spot against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a best-of-five division series that begins Tuesday in Los Angeles.

"Excited. Ready to get it going," Musgrove said. "This is the first step."

The 29-year-old right-hander sparked his hometown Padres by striking out five batters and allowing only one hit and one walk in seven scoreless innings for a historic triumph.

"I was just focused on execution," Musgrove said. "I had a lot of stuff working. I located the ball really well. I'm executing really well."

Masterful Musgrove became the first pitcher in 127 MLB winner-take-all playoff games to pitch seven shutout innings and allow one hit or less.

Padres relief pitchers Robert Suarez and Josh Hader each hurled a shutout inning to complete the romp. The Mets managed only two base runners for the game.

Musgrove held his composure in the sixth inning after Mets manager Buck Showalter had the umpires check his uniform and body for traces of an improper substance to help him grip the ball.

"I had seen him do it before, checking the pitcher," Musgrove said. 

"I get it. They are on their last legs. They are desperate. They are going to do everything they can to get me out of the game at that point."

AFP