The Mets (78-61) defeated the Washington Nationals (71-68) tonight at Nationals Park by a score of 5-3, and in the process, completing the series sweep.
Offense:
Stephen Strasburg took the ball for the Nationals, as Washington looked to salvage the final game of the series and avoid the sweep.
Through the first seven innings, the former first overall pick dominated the Mets, as he let up just one run – a second inning solo home run to Travis d’Arnaud – as well as scattering just two other hits.
Strasburg was throwing a devastating 12-6 curveball at about a 50% clip, and it was making the Mets hitters look foolish all game. All in all, Strasburg struck out thirteen batters.
In the top of the eighth inning, Terry Collins decided to pinch hit for Wilmer Flores with Kelly Johnson, and it surely paid off, as Johnson blasted a home run to right field to knot the game up at two apiece in the late goings.
Curtis Granderson singled two batters later, which effectively ended Strasburg’s night. Despite striking out a baker’s dozen, Strasburg could not win the game.
However, he did come away with the loss, as Nationals’ manager Matt Williams brought in Drew Storen to face Yoenis Cespedes.
Cespedes, who hit a base clearing double off of Storen just 24 hours ago, greeted Storen with a two-run bomb to left field to give the Mets a 4-2 lead, their first of the night.
In the ninth inning, after Bryce Harper hit a home run to cut the deficit to 4-3, Lucas Duda hit a lead-off double off of Jonathan Papelbon, and after advancing to third and being pinch run for with Eric Young , Michael Conforto singled to get the Mets the insurance run right back.
Pitching:
Jacob deGrom started for the Mets, and pretty much matched his opposition tit for tat. His only Achilles heel of the evening was Bryce Harper, who hit a home run off of the former Rookie of the Year in the first inning, and then doubled and came around to score in the fourth.
DeGrom would go seven strong innings, allowing just the two runs on five hits, while walking two and striking out nine. DeGrom improved to 13-7 on the season, as the Mets rallied late in the game to give the ace a much deserved W.
Tyler Clippard pitched the eighth inning, and despite allowing a home run to Bryce Harper, he limited the damage and kept the lead in the Mets favor.
Jeurys Familia pitched a clean ninth inning and earned his 39th save of the year, as the Mets sweep the Nats on the road to increase the division lead to seven games.
Thoughts:
What an incredible game. Strasburg kept mowing the Mets down, but it just didn’t seem to shake me. I had no doubt in my mind that the Mets were going to find away to regain the lead and win the game yet again. When Matt Williams decided to go to Drew Storen whose world must be crashing around him, I knew the tides were about to change. And against the same batter who owned him yesterday?! Sure enough, Cespedes who can seem to do no wrong, blasted his 32nd home run of the year to give the Mets their first lead of the night. Just an absolutely incredible series. Dropping 2 out of 3 to the cellar dwelling Miami Marlins now seems like a distant memory. This might be the best Mets team I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime, and I’m just so happy that all those years of heartache are finally gone and it feels so gratifying that we finally have a team to love and root for in Queens. The magic number is down to 17, and there’s no stopping us now. Strap in and get comfortable, Mets fans. It’s going to be a great one.
On deck:
The Mets open up a four game series at Turner Field against the Braves starting tomorrow night. Bartolo Colon (13-11, 4.18 ERA) gets the ball for the opener and takes on Shelby Miller (5-13, 2.81) who has not won a decision in 20 starts. First pitch is at 7:10 PM.
