When the New York Mets signed free agents Jay Bruce and Jason Vargas in the offseason, they envisioned many nights like tonight.
The Mets shutout the Washington Nationals, 3-0, at Citi Field behind Jason Vargas’ best start of the season and Jay Bruce’s first Citi Field home run since 2017.
Pitching
Vargas limited the Washington Nationals to three hits over six innings with a season-high eight strikeouts. The veteran did not allow a walk and kept the Nationals off-balance with superb command of secondary pitches which, until recently, proved problematic for the starter. Consistency appears to be key for Vargas, who has a 2.07 earned run average over his last three starts.
The Mets’ relief aces backed Vargas’ strong effort. Seth Lugo pitched two perfect innings in relief and recorded three strikeouts before Robert Gsellman sealed the door in the ninth for his eighth save of the season.
Offense
A return to the leadoff spot proved beneficial for Amed Rosario, who led off the game with a line-drive single to right field to snap a 12 at-bat hitless streak. The shortstop promptly stole his 15th base of the year before a Jeff McNeil groundout advanced Rosario to third and a Wilmer Flores single drove in the team’s first run of the game.
McNeil extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single, drew his first walk since August 15, and picked up his second stolen base of the season.
It was McNeil’s walk and stolen base that set the table for Jay Bruce in the eighth inning.
Bruce, who agreed to a three-year, $39 million contract to return to the Mets in the offseason, was activated from the disabled list earlier in the day. He had not appeared in a major-league game since June 17 as hip issues and plantar fasciitis contributed to what has been the worst season of his career.
Bruce crushed a two-run home run in his fourth-and-final at-bat of the night off off of Tim Collins to stake the Mets to their ultimate 3-0 lead.
Austin Jackson and Todd Frazier also collected hits in the team’s winning effort.
On Deck
The Mets will look to secure a series victory over the Nationals on Saturday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. at Citi Field. Zack Wheeler (8-6, 3.63 ERA) will start for the Mets against Tanner Roark (8-12, 4.05 ERA)for the Nationals.
The game will be televised on SNY and Fox Sports 1 and broadcast on WOR 710.
