Game Recap: Carlos Gomez Leads Mets to Sweep Over Nationals, 6-4

Oh, How Sweep It Sounds. The Mets beat the Nationals 6-4 to complete a four-game sweep at Citi Field. It was the first time (second overall) in Mets team history they’ve swept the Expos/Nationals at home since 1972. (Box Score)

Pitching

Steven Matz somehow pitched very well despite being in and out of trouble in virtually every single inning.

In the first, he gave up a one-out single to Adam Eaton. He proceeded to get the ever dangerous Anthony Rendon to hit into a double-play to end the inning.

In the second, he gave up a triple to Juan Soto to leadoff the inning. It looked like the Nationals were poised to take a 1-0 lead but Matz said nothing doing. He struck out Brian Dozier and continued his game of 3D chess by walking Victor Robles to face Yan Gomes with two-men on and one-out. Matz got him to hit into a double play so threat neutralized.

He struck out Stephen Strasburg to begin the third inning. Trea Turner proceeded to hit a one-out double though. Matz again thwarted any damage by getting Eaton to ground out and struck out Rendon looking.

With one-out in the fourth, Matz gave up a single to Soto and a double to Dozier. That Nats finally scored, right? Matz said no and struck out Robles. The Mets opted to walk Gomes and Matz responded by striking out Strasburg.

In the fifth inning, he gave up a single to Eaton with one-out but he took second on an error by Juan Lagares. Matz still settled down and got Rendon and Howie Kendrick to ground out.

The sixth inning was a lot stranger. Soto doubled to lead off the inning with the Nationals down, 1-0. Brian Dozier opted to bunt and Adeiny Hecchaveria threw the ball away while trying to get the out at first. Soto scored but Dozier aggressively tried taking third base. Steven Matz made a heads up play and threw it to third to get the out. Victor Robles bunted for a single immediately after that. Matz composed himself though and struck out Gomes and Strasburg to avoid any further damage.

His final line was: 6 IP, 10 H, ER, 2 BB, 7 K. A lot of baserunners, but a very solid start at the end of the day for Matz.

Jeurys Familia came on for the seventh inning. He faced the top of the Nationals order and retired the side in order.

Robert Gsellman got the eighth inning. He began it with a strikeout of Kendrick. Juan Soto walked but Dozier popped out to the catcher to have Nationals down to two-outs in the inning. Robles singled to right field though and Gomes hit a double to make it a 3-2 game. Gsellman stayed in though and pinch-hitter, Gerardo Parra, hit a two-run single to give the Nationals a 4-3 lead. Rob struck out Turner but the damage was already done.

Edwin Diaz, not used for four outs, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 12th save. He had a couple of strikeouts in the frame too.

Offense

The Mets did not have much going Strasburg early on. The only regulars in the lineup were Pete Alonso, Wilson Ramos, and Amed Rosario.

They began their damage in the fifth inning. Carlos Gomez lined a hard single to left field. He proceeded to steal second base and advanced to third base on a throwing error by Gomes. He lost his shoe in the process but it did not stop him from scoring on a sacrifice fly from Juan Lagares.

With the game tied at one in the sixth inning, Mets started rallying once again. J.D. Davis hit a single with one-out. Todd Frazier got hit by a pitch immediately after. Both advanced on a wild pitch, which promptly allowed Pete Alonso to drive in Davis on a sac-fly. Wilson Ramos followed that up with a RBI single to make it a 3-1 game.

The eighth inning was once again exciting, similar to last night. Dominic Smith doubled to lead off the inning. Todd Frazier and Alonso struck out to follow and it looked like the Mets luck might have run out. Some idiot thought that Suero’s cutter was really good (it was me, I was that idiot). The Nationals walked Ramos to face Gomez. Gomez decided to make the Nationals pay and hit a three-run homer to left-center field. It was a huge hit for the Mets who really needed a sweep and series like this one. They buried a NL East opponent while showed signs of life, all while battling adversity on their own.

Ramos and Gomez each had two hits and a walk in the game.