The Mets split the two-game series against the divisional-foe Nationals with a 3-1 triumph in Washington Wednesday evening. As Rick Porcello and Seth Lugo combined to allow just one run on five hits, New York brought the win home behind solid pitching and excellent defensive efforts from the entire squad, especially J.D. Davis and Michael Conforto. (Box Score)

PITCHING:

Rick Porcello took the mound for New York with a 1-0 lead, but gave one back in the first inning to tie it up early. Facing off with his former Detroit Tigers teammate, Max Scherzer, the New Jersey native surrendered a pair of doubles to Adam Eaton and Juan Soto to make it even. 

Allowing just a single to Eric Thames in the second, Washington had nothing across in the third. The Nats’ Juan Soto hit a leadoff single in the fourth but was tagged at third on 9-6 putout after former-Met Asdrubal Cabrera knocked a one-out single to Conforto. The exceptional defensive effort was followed up by a J.D. Davis strike to first base from his knees to get the last out of the frame. New York would not allow a baserunner for the remainder of the game. 

Porcello got his first win as a Met on Wednesday evening and ended his outing with seven innings pitched. He allowed just one run on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts. The starter was very efficient in tossing just 81 pitches. 

Seth Lugo entered in relief in the eighth and got out of the frame with just six pitches. Lugo earned the six-out save without allowing a baserunner while striking out two. 

The duo of Porcello and Lugo retired 16 straight Nationals to conclude the night. 

OFFENSE:

Despite the win, the Mets had plenty of runners on but were unable to bring many of them home. As a team they walked seven times with just three strikeouts while they put together seven hits, yet went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base. 

New York took an early 1-0 lead for just the second first inning-run the club has scored this season. Brandon Nimmo drew a leadoff walk to mark the 28th straight game the outfielder has safely reached base and Conforto singled to put runners on the corners- while also extending his reach-streak, as he has gotten on in all 13 games played this season. A Dominic Smith sac fly got the Mets on the board. 

Erick Fedde took the mound in relief for Washington in the second as Max Scherzer exited the game with an apparent injury. The righty walked Wilson Ramos with one out, but Luis Guillorme grounded into a double play to end the frame. 

Nimmo walked again in the third but was put away at second as Conforto took first after grounding into a force out. Conforto advanced to second when Alonso was walked with two outs, but the pair was once again left stranded as Dom Smith grounded out to the pitcher. 

Davis and Andres Gimenez put runners in scoring position to kickoff the fourth with back-to-back singles. In Guillorme’s first start of the season, the second baseman got his first hit of the year -a RBI single- to put the Mets in front 2-1. Billy Hamilton subsequently reached in his Mets’ debut, grounding into a forceout with Guillorme put away at second. The center fielder then stole for second and third, but Nimmo closed off the inning with a groundout leaving two on. 

Conforto walked in the fifth and took third on a Dom Smith flyout. Davis was intentionally walked with two outs but a pattern continued as Gimenez couldn’t capitalize and popped out to end the frame. Wilson Ramos notched a single in the sixth. 

As the fifth leadoff baserunner through seven innings Nimmo drew his third walk-from the third different pitcher- to get things going in the following frame. With one out, Alonso knocked an opposite-field base hit for first and third. The Mets got an insurance run with a bullet off the left-center wall for Dom Smith that drove Nimmo in for his second RBI of the evening and his second double of the year. 

Nimmo walked three times and scored two runs, and Conforto was 1-for-3 with a walk. Each man in the lineup reached base at least once, all with base knocks besides Nimmo (three BBs) and Hamilton (forceout). 

 

ON DECK:

The Mets have the day off tomorrow. They begin a three-game series against the Miami Marlins on Friday in Queens. Michael Wacha (1-1, 6.00 ERA) will face off with Sandy Alcantara (1-0, 1.35 ERA) on the bump.

Wacha is looking to bounce back from his last start in Atlanta where he gave up five runs on seven hits in five innings. 

Alcantara will make his second start of the season after testing positive for COVID-19 as the Marlins’ season was temporarily paused due to a clubhouse outbreak. In his first outing, the right-hander threw 6.2 innings and surrendered two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts.

First pitch in Queens will be at 7:10 PM on August 7. The game will be televised by SNY and broadcast on WCBS 880-AM.