The New York Mets (44-24) and Washington Nationals (30-37) continued their three-game series on Wednesday night at Citi Field. The Mets were looking to extend their four-game win streak, while the Nationals were looking to snap a three-game losing streak.
Left-handed pitcher David Peterson (4-2, 2.74 ERA) took the mound for his 14th start of the year against right-handed pitcher Jake Irvin (5-2, 4.08 ERA) of the Nationals.
Peterson was fantastic on Wednesday night. He became the first Mets pitcher this season to pitch eight or more innings, going the distance. He turned in a phenomenal full-game performance – nine shutout innings, giving up just six hits and striking out six. He placed that baseball right in his pocket as the game ended 5-0 in favor of the Mets. He threw 106 pitches (75 for strikes) in the best performance of his career.
The heart of the Mets’ lineup was firing on all cylinders as two home runs by Brandon Nimmo, a home run by Juan Soto, and an RBI double by Pete Alonso led the Mets to a 5-0 win over the Nationals to take the second game of the series and secured the series win.
Alonso gave the Mets the early lead in the bottom of the first. With Brandon Nimmo on first, Aonso doubled on a line drive to center field that was deep enough to allow Nimmo to kick into high gear and score from first to give the Mets the 1-0 early lead.
The Mets kept with their theme of extra-base hits in the third as, with one out, Lindor doubled to right field. Two batters later, Soto stayed hot and crushed a ball out deep center field for a two-run home run that scored Lindor and extended the Mets’ lead to 3-0 over Washington. Soto has now homered in two games in a row; he has a home run in the last four home games consecutively, tying a Mets team record. He has now been on base 13 games in a row and increased his OPS to .854
Nimmo joined the long-ball party in the fifth with a leadoff home run to center field. That was his 11th home run on the season and extended the Mets’ lead to 4-0. Nimmo then homered once again in the bottom of the seventh. And again, it was a leadoff home run, this time to right field, that made it a 5-0 Mets lead.
Tyrone Taylor came in for defense and did just that, throwing out a runner at home to keep the shoutout rolling in the eighth inning.
By Roberto Carlo
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Rightfully so, the Metsmerized Player of the Game is David Peterson for his nine shutout innings and his first career nine-inning complete game. His 2.74 ERA since his 2024 season debut on May 29, ranks fourth among National League pitchers.
“This is what we strive for, we try to go as long in the game as we can. I can’t thank Luis (Torrens) enough for what he did back there, we were on the same page all night,” Peterson said.
Peterson also proclaimed his gratitude for Carlos Mendoza, who allowed him to play the full nine innings. “It’s huge. I wanted to finish that game. And for him (Mendoza) to have the confidence to let me do it was amazing.”
ON DECK
The Mets and Nationals will close out their three-game series on Thursday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. ET. The Mets will send right-handed pitcher Kodai Senga (6-3, 1.59 ERA, 65 SO) to the mound as they look to take the series sweep over right-handed pitcher Michael Soroka (3-3, 4.86 ERA, 35 SO) and the Washington Nationals.
