The New York Mets (47-38) defeated the Washington Nationals (51-36) in a crazy game by a score of 9-7 Thursday night at Citi Field.
Pitching:
Bartolo Colon started tonight and was greeted rudely by Ben Revere, who smacked a triple down the right field line to lead off the game. Daniel Murphy then singled him in for the first run of the game, but Bryce Harper then grounded into an inning ending double play.
Colon pitched well until Bryce Harper, Clint Robinson, and Anthony Rendon all took him deep with solo shots in the 4th inning, giving the Nationals a 4-1 lead.
The 5th inning started off with base hits by Oliver Perez and Ben Revere. Jayson Werth then grounded into a fielders choice to put runners on first and third with one out. With Blevins ready in the bullpen and Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper due up, I thought this was the end of Colon’s night. Terry kept him in, and Murphy grounded into a double play… Or at least he would have if the Nationals didn’t challenge, and unfortunately the replay showed Murphy was safe at first, thus scoring the run giving the Nationals a 5-4 lead.
Harper then singled, moving Murphy to third, then Wilson Ramos singled to score Murphy and move Harper to third, still with two outs. This was the end of Colon’s night.
Colon’s final line: 4.2 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 Ks, 3 BB
Jerry Blevins faced one batter, walking Clint Robinson to load the bases in the 5th.
Hansel Robles came in with the bases juiced in the 5th, getting Anthony Rendon to fly out to end the inning. He stayed in for the 6th inning, and despite allowing a double to Oliver Perez, pitched a scoreless inning.
Antonio Bastardo came in for the 7th inning, and proceeded to give up a solo shot to Daniel Murphy, trimming the Mets lead to 8-7. He then struck out Bryce Harper and induced a ground ball from Wilson Ramos. With two outs, Clint Robinson hit a dinky ground ball back to the mound, however Bastardo made a terrible throw to first which got by Flores, sending Robinson to second and knocking Bastardo from the game.
Addison Reed came in to face Anthony Rendon, whom he blew away with a 94 mph fastball. He then breezed through the 8th inning, conserving the Mets’ 9-7 lead.
Jeurys Familia came in for his 31st save opportunity of the season. He walked Jayson Werth to lead off the inning, bringing Daniel Murphy to the plate as the tying run. He hit a ball to the left of Asdrubal Cabrera who made an unbelievable diving stop, from his belly tossed it backhanded to Walker at second who was taken out by Werth. The umpires called a runners’ interference and called Murphy out at first base to complete the double play. The play went under review to determine if the slide was dirty, however the call on the field was upheld.
Bryce Harper then came up with two outs and nobody on. On the 8th pitch of the at bat, La Familia struck him out with an elevated 98 mph fastball to end the game. Familia is now 31-31 in save opportunities this season, and has converted 47 straight regular season saves dating back to last season.
Offense:
After Jose Reyes struck out in the first inning, Curtis Granderson walked. Yoenis Cespedes then demolished a one-hopper to the shortstop Danny Espinosa who was eaten up by it, so instead of an inning-ending double play, there was now runners on first and second with one out. Neil Walker then grounded out to the first basemen moving both runners over. In stepped James Loney, who struck out looking to end the inning.
Loney would not miss his second opportunity with runners in scoring position, however, as with runners on first and second with two outs in the 3rd, he lined a base hit to left, scoring Yoenis Cespedes from second, then tying the game at one.
After the Nationals hit three solo home runs in the top of the fourth, Travis d’Arnaud and Jose Reyes answered with taters of their own in the bottom half. With two outs, Curtis Granderson then doubled down the right field line. After the pitcher Lucas Giolito balked moving Grandy to third, Yoenis Cespedes doubled down the left field line to tie the game at four. Neil Walker then walked, knocking Giolito from the game.
Oliver Perez entered the game to face James Loney, and on the very first pitch, the Mets pulled off a ballsy double steal. Unfortunately, Loney popped out to Murph to end the inning.
The Mets came out firing in the 5th inning again, with Asdrubal Cabrera and Brandon Nimmo cracking back to back singles. Travis d’Arnaud struck out, and Wilmer Flores pinch hit. He socked a 3-run home run to give the Mets the lead, his 5th home run in 5 days. As Fred Flintstone would say, WIIIILMAAAAAAAAH!
Facing Matt Belisle in the 6th, Asdrubal Cabrera cracked a solo shot to give the Mets a 8-6 lead.
The 7th inning was eventful as well. Jose Reyes walked, however was caught stealing for the second out. He seemed to have gotten a good jump, however stopped and ran back to first and was thrown out by the catcher. Curtis Granderson singled up the middle and Yoenis Cespedes walked, then Neil Walker singled to left to score Grandy. In to face the lefty, Juan Lagares walked to load the bases for Asdrubal Cabrera, who grounded out.
With a 9-7 lead, Kelly Johnson, pinch hitting, led off the bottom of the 8th with a double to right center. Travis d’Arnaud grounded out to shortstop, failing to advance the runner, then Wilmer Flores walked. However, Jose Reyes and Curtis Granderson could not drive in any runs.
Notes:
Verizon Trivia Question: Since 2014, who are the only two National League players with more hits than Daniel Murphy?
All of the Mets starters (except Big Sexy) had at least one hit.
In the 4th inning, Harper “earned” his home run, hitting it by the apple in center field, but Robinson’s and Rendon’s home runs were not struck very well. Off the bat they both seemed like pop-ups, continuing the recent trend of balls carrying to left at Citi Field.
That 4th inning was the first inning in Mets history that featured five home runs.
There were 8 home runs (4 Nationals, 4 Mets) hit in tonight’s game, which is a new Citi Field record.
With his home run tonight, Daniel Murphy has now hit 5 against the Mets this season and has a new career high 15 home runs.
The Mets have hit .313 with 22 home runs in the last 8 games.
Verizon Trivia Answer: Charlie Blackmon & Buster Posey
On Deck:
The Norse God of Thunder Noah Syndergaard (9-3, 2.41 ERA) will face off against Stephen Strasburg (11-0, 2.71 ERA) in an ace matchup Friday night at Citi Field at 7:10 PM.
