Last night in New York’s 6-2 win over the San Diego Padres, Mike Baxter became the first Mets player to walk five times in a nine-inning game. He’s the first major league player to walk five times in a nine-inning game since Ryan Howard did so in 2006.

“Sometimes you foul off some pitches. When you miss a fastball that you usually put in play, it extends the at-bat. And sometimes you get ahead in the count and you try to work it a little bit,” Baxter said after the Mets beat the Padres 6-2 Saturday night. “It was just kind of a strange night.”

Baxter is now batting .310/.425/.493 in 87 plate appearances this season. Also notable was Daniel Murphy going 4-for-4 with a double and a pair of runs scored. Jeremy Hefner struck out two batters and walked none in six innings while allowing just one run. Josh Edgin pitched a pair of scoreless innings and Frank Francisco earned the save after Bobby Parnell allowed a Chase Headley home run in the ninth inning.

Here’s the complete box score.

The Mets did most of their offensive work in the second inning, when they scored four runs against Edinson Volquez. Ike Davis led off with a single and Volquez then loaded the bases with walks to Murphy and Baxter. After Andres Torres struck out for the first of three times, Josh Thole was walked to break the scoreless tie. Volquez recovered by striking out Hefner, but then Tejada walked to drive in a second run. The ball was finally put into play again on Jordanny Valdespin’s two-RBI double that broke open the game.

For Padres fans, the game marked the MLB debut of reliever Cory Burns. In 65 innings with triple-A Tucsco this season, Burns has 77 strikeouts and 16 walks with a 0.94 WHIP, so as a Mets fan, I’m pretty jealous. Although Burns struggled with his control (three walks) he showed some nasty off-speed stuff and got through his 1.2 innings without allowing a run.

Today, the Mets and Padres play the rubber game of their three-game series. Matt Harvey will make his third career MLB start while Staten Island native Jason Marquis takes the hill for San Diego.