SAN DIEGO — Tony Clark took a smooth swing and let Billy Wagner supply the power.

Clark connected for a pinch-hit, three-run homer off Wagner with two outs in the eighth inning Sunday, sending the San Diego Padres to an 8-6 victory and a four-game sweep of the New York Mets.

The 6-foot-7 Clark drove a 96 mph fastball over the center-field fence to help San Diego extend its season-high winning streak to five games.

“I have enough of a history to know that he’s a handful,” Clark said. “He’s throwing mid-to-high 90s (mph). You simply try to get the bat head over the ball and take your chances from there.”

The go-ahead shot sent the staggering Mets (30-32) home after a 2-5 trip to California. New York has a day off Monday before opening a six-game home-stand against NL West-leading Arizona. The Mets, a World Series favorite before the season, are fourth in the NL East, 7½ games behind first-place Philadelphia.

“I don’t know what to say,” manager Willie Randolph said. “I’m not usually at a loss for words, but what do you say? We finally score some runs and Billy’s been pitching lights-out. It’s frustrating.”

The Padres, who have won eight of 11 overall, had their record-setting streak of 2-1 wins snapped. San Diego became the first team in major league history to win four straight 2-1 games on Saturday night, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The victory Sunday gave San Diego its first four-game sweep of the Mets at home since 1980.

The pinch-hit homer was the 11th of Clark’s career and first with the Padres. Clark, a San Diego high school star, signed as a free agent in the offseason.

“I was trying to keep the ball down, not elevated,” Wagner said. “He put a pretty good swing on it.”

It was Wagner’s third blown save in 16 chances. When he entered the game, Wagner (0-1) had allowed only one earned run all season.

Padres closer Trevor Hoffman, who was warming up in the San Diego bullpen in left-center, initially didn’t think Clark’s drive would carry over the fence.

“But once it got about 20 feet over second, it just kind of kicked into another gear,” Hoffman said. “I put my head down and started throwing.”

Carlos Guevara (1-0) pitched a perfect eighth for his first major league win. Hoffman worked the ninth for his 14th save in 17 chances.

Also on Sunday:

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Phillies 6

Braves 3

ATLANTA — Ryan Howard drove in two runs in the ninth inning with his third double of the game and Philadelphia beat Atlanta to complete a three-game sweep. Howard finished three for five with four RBIs. The game was tied at 3 through eight innings, but the Phillies bullied Blaine Boyer (1-4) for four hits and three runs in the ninth.

Marlins 9

Reds 2

MIAMI — Hanley Ramirez homered twice and Ryan Tucker pitched five effective innings to win his major league debut, leading Florida past Cincinnati. Ramirez hit a pair of two-run shots off Aaron Harang (2-9), giving him five homers in his last five games.

Cardinals 5

Astros 4

HOUSTON— Brendan Ryan hit a two-run single in the seventh inning to cap a St. Louis comeback fueled by two Houston errors. Kyle Lohse (7-2) gave up a three-run homer to Lance Berkman, but otherwise pitched six strong innings to beat the Astros for the third time this season.

Pirates 6

Diamondbacks 4

PITTSBURGH — Jason Bay’s two-run double completed Pittsburgh’s five-run fourth inning and the Pirates shook off Mark Reynolds’ two home runs to beat Arizona. Phil Dumatrait (3-3) gave up two runs and four hits while walking two, and has allowed four earned runs over 18 23 innings (1.93 ERA) in his last three starts.

Giants 6

Nationals 3

WASHINGTON — Barry Zito earned his second win of the season and Ray Durham finished with four hits, leading San Francisco past Washington. Aaron Rowand’s bad-hop single gave San Francisco the go-ahead run and capped a four-run fifth inning. Zito (2-9) allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings.

Brewers 3

Rockies 2

DENVER — Jeff Suppan (4-4) and three relievers limited Colorado to six hits as Milwaukee snapped a six-game slide at Coors Field. Ryan Braun, Bill Hall and Gabe Kapler all had RBI singles for the Brewers.

Cubs 3

Dodgers 1

LOS ANGELES — Jason Marquis (4-3) took a two-hitter into the seventh inning and the Cubs extended Brad Penny’s winless streak to seven starts with a victory, salvaging a split of the four-game series with the Dodgers.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

White Sox 12

Twins 2

CHICAGO — Nick Swisher and Alexei Ramirez homered as Chicago routed Minnesota for their sixth straight win. Swisher’s three-run homer off Kevin Slowey (2-6) in the second made it 3-1 and Chicago broke it open with five more in the third. Gavin Floyd (7-3) struck out a career-high nine and walked one while allowing two runs and six hits in seven innings.

Red Sox 2

Mariners 1

BOSTON — Justin Masterson pitched six strong innings and J.D. Drew hit a go-ahead homer for Boston, lifting the Red Sox over the Seattle Mariners. Masterson (3-0) gave up one run on three hits and struck out four for Boston, which has won 15 of its last 16 at home and eight of 10 overall.

Yankees 6

Royals 3

NEW YORK — Joba Chamberlain bounced back from a disappointing first start with the Yankees, pitching into the fifth inning to help New York beat Kansas City. Jason Giambi hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth and Bobby Abreu finished with a home run and three RBIs for the Yankees.

Blue Jays 5

Orioles 4

TORONTO — Roy Halladay (8-5) won his fourth straight start, Vernon Wells homered and Toronto snapped a four-game losing streak. Luke Scott hit two homers for the Orioles, a solo shot in the second inning and a two-run drive in the sixth.

Rangers 6

Rays 3

ARLINGTON, Texas — David Murphy hit one of Texas’ three homers and the Rangers beat Tampa Bay despite playing without ailing hitting stars Josh Hamilton and Michael Young. German Duran and Ramon Vazquez also homered for the Rangers.

Athletics 7

Angels 3

OAKLAND, Calif. — Mark Ellis hit a grand slam with two outs in the 12th inning, and Oakland ended Los Angeles’ season-best seven-game winning streak. Ellis hit the first pitch from Chris Bootcheck (0-1) just inside the left-field foul pole for his second career game-ending homer and his third grand slam.

Tigers 5

Indians 2

DETROIT — Curtis Granderson homered and Placido Polanco hit a key two-run single as the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians. Armando Galarraga (5-2) picked up the win, allowing two runs in 523 innings.