Juan Soto hit two 400-plus foot home runs, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a rocky MLB debut by Zach Thornton as the Nats beat the Mets 8-4 Wednesday at Nationals Park.
Thornton, 24, struggled immediately, giving up a single and a walk in the first inning before CJ Abrams teed off on an 85 mph cutter for a 389-foot, three-run homer, his 10th of the season and first off of a lefty. The Mets (21-28) got a run back in the second to make it 3-1 when Mark Vientos doubled and Brett Baty drove him in with a single.
Thornton walked Nasim Nuñez with one out in the second and he stole second and went to third when Hayden Senger‘s throw went into center field. Nuñez scored on a Keibert Ruiz single. The Mets got a run back in the third to make it 4-2 when Soto sent one 416 feet to the second deck.
Thornton gave up four hits, walked two, struck out three and left after James Wood flew out to left on his 80th pitch with one out in the fifth and a runner on second. Austin Warren entered and escaped with a big assist from Carson Benge, who fired a one-hop strike to Senger from right field to nail a runner at the plate to end the inning.
Soto’s second blast was a two-run shot that checked in at 408-feet and brought the Mets to within 6-4 in the eighth.
Craig Kimbrel pitched the longest outing of his 17-year career, going 2 2/3, and gave up a two-run homer to Jacob Young in the eighth that extended the Nats lead to 8-4.
Thornton, 24, had made only two starts at Triple-A Syracuse, and got the start on the day that would have been Clay Holmes‘ turn in the rotation. He had given up three runs in 12 innings at Syracuse after pitching to a 3.60 ERA in five starts (25 innings) at Double-A Binghamton.
Will Sammon and Tim Britton wrote a beautiful story in The Athletic about Thornton’s dad, Paul, leaving a hospital in Chicago to attend the game. Paul Thornton has been relearning to walk after spinal surgery went wrong last month and he was left temporarily paralyzed from the waist down.
Stat of the Game
Warren entered the game having given up one run on eight hits in 14 2/3 innings this season. He gave up two runs on four hits in one inning.
Player of the Game
It was the 29th multi-homer game of Soto’s career and he was robbed of an extra-base hit in the first inning when Dylan Crews made a leaping catch at the wall in right center. He is slashing .299/.392/.559 on the season with nine homers.
On Deck
The Mets will try to split the four-game series before heading to Miami for the weekend. They have not named a starter for Thursday, but David Peterson will pitch as the starter or in bulk relief. Righty Cade Cavalli (2-2, 4.05 ERA) goes for the Nats. He earned a win at Citi Field on April 29 when he gave up two runs over six innings and struck out 10.
First pitch is 4:05 p.m. ET and the game will air on SNY.
