David Peterson faced 27 batters Tuesday. He threw a first-pitch strike to 20 of them. The key to pitching late into games, apparently, is going after hitters early.

“So I got out there and try to give the team a chance to win and try and be efficient,” he said after throwing 65 of 96 pitches for strikes and earning the win in the 8-1 victory over the Nationals. “Like I said, being on the attack, getting ahead early in the counts help that. The more efficient you can be I think the deeper you get into games. Just trying to attack the zone, be aggressive and keep them on the defensive side of the count as much as I could.”

Peterson (8-5) went eight innings, allowed one run on four hits, walked one and struck out a season-high 10 to help the Mets (67-58) to their third win in a row before 23,989 at Nationals Park. It was the fifth time this year the first-time All-Star pitched into the eighth inning. No one else on the staff has done that once.

Photo Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

The Nationals managed a run in the eighth, ending Peterson’s run of 26 consecutive scoreless innings pitched against them, the fourth-longest streak in Mets history, per SNY. The top three streaks were Tom Seaver (Phillies, 1969-70, 38 IP), Jon Matlack (Expos, 1973-74, 29 2/3 IP) and Jose Quintana (Nationals, 2023-24, 27 IP).

“I think he’s just pounding the zone, keeping the hitters off balance and you know the sinker was working, getting early ground balls and that allows him to go deep in games,” said Jeff McNeil, who went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.

Peterson, who lowered his ERA to 3.18, leads the Mets in innings pitched (144 1/3) and 15 of his 24 outings have been quality starts. Second on the Mets in quality starts are Clay Holmes and Kodai Senga with six apiece. He’s been the steady presence in a rotation that has dealt with injuries, inconsistency and a lack of length from starters all season.

The Mets have gone 60 games without a starter other than Peterson lasting six innings, an MLB record since at least 1901.

“It was nice,” manager Carlos Mendoza said of Tuesday’s win. “I’m not gonna lie. Playing a complete game. You know offensively scoring a lot of runs, allowing Petey to kinda work there. Haven’t played a game like that in awhile. Good start. I’ve been saying it. We got good players. We’re a good team. We just gotta go out there and do it and we did it today.”