3 Up
1. Syndergaard Reaches 200 K’s
Noah Syndergaard was absolutely fantastic in the middle game of the series down in DC. Thor went seven strong innings while allowing just one run on four hits. He struck out a total of 10 batters, putting his season total at 205. It was the first time he struck out that many batters since June 15th, a span of 15 starts. However, over his last five starts, Syndergaard has a total of 35 strikeouts with an ERA of 1.06.
2. Rivera Saves Mets
After the Nationals had rallied from a two-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Mets were saved by one of the most unlikely of sources. T.J. Rivera hit a solo shot in the top of the 10th inning to give the Mets a 4-3 lead. It would have been one of the more crushing losses for the Mets this season. Instead, the Mets won the game and stayed a 0.5 game up on the Cardinals.
3. Blevins Comes Up Huge
After T.J. Rivera gave the Mets the lead one more time in the top of the 10th inning of Tuesday night’s game, Jerry Blevins was called on to try and shut the door one more time after Jeurys Familia couldn’t get the job done (albeit he did not get help from his teammates). With the tying run on base, Blevins struck out the uber-dangerous ex-Met Daniel Murphy. It may have been the biggest strikeout of the entire season.
3 Down
1. Montero Struggles
Monday night may have been the last time we see Rafael Montero pitch for the Mets this season. His struggles with walking batters finally caught up to him as lasted just 1 2/3 innings. Montero allowed four walks, including fix hits and six runs in total. In five appearances with the Mets this season he has an 8.10 ERA.
2. Bruce Not Cashing In
For a little while there it looked as though Jay Bruce was breaking out of that long slump he had been mired in since joining the Mets. However in the last week Bruce is just 3-25 with just one RBI. In the three games down in DC, Bruce did collect two hits, but he also left six runners on base, failing to drive guys in when he had the opportunity.
3. Flores’s Wrist
Already dealing with a sore neck after his slide on Saturday night in Atlanta, word got out after Wednesday’s game that Wilmer Flores is now suffering from a wrist issue that has left him unable to swing a bat. X-rays on the wrist were negative, but this issue couldn’t have come at a worst time. In his last 15 games, Flores had been batting .292 with three HR and nine RBI.
