The New York Mets (56-71) took the opener of their four-game series with the Washington Nationals (76-50) by a score of 4-2 at Nationals Park on Friday night.
Pitching:
Jacob deGrom (13-7, 3.49 ERA) took the mound for the Mets looking get back on the winning side of things as he was 1-4 in his last five starts coming into this game.
He did exactly that as he went 7 2/3 innings and limited the Nationals to five hits, one walk, and one run while striking out 10 batters. He was one out away from eight shutout innings, but was lifted from the game after giving up a run on back-to-back hits.
Jerry Blevins relieved deGrom and struck Daniel Murphy out to end the eighth inning.
AJ Ramos came into the game for a save chance in the ninth. He gave up two hits, two walks, and one run, but was able to convert the save.
Offense:
The Mets faced A.J. Cole (1-3, 5.32 ERA) who was called up from Triple-A Syracuse to take Max Scherzer‘s rotational spot as he was out due to a sore neck.
Asdrubal Cabrera drove in the first run of the game for the Mets in the first inning on a RBI single.
The Mets held onto that 1-0 lead until the eighth inning where they were able to score two more runs. Matt Reynolds drove in a run on a RBI single and Dominic Smith drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to left field.
Juan Lagares gave the Mets an insurance run in the the top of the ninth. He drove in a run on a RBI single.
On Deck:
The Mets play the second game of this series on Saturday with Robert Gsellman (5-5, 5.65 ERA) slated to start against Gio Gonzalez (12-5, 2.39 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 pm.
