The New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals in game one of the day-night doubleheader 6-5 on Sunday afternoon.

Pitching 

Tommy Milone, despite not lasting long enough to be rewarded with a win, pitched well. He lasted 4.1 innings and allowed one run on six hits while striking out five.

Hansel Robles was called upon in the fifth with the bases loaded and one out. Robles struck out both Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman, stranding the bases loaded.

Rafael Montero struggled as he wasn’t able to make his way out of the sixth inning. Montero allowed allowed an RBI double to ex-Met Alejandro De Aza cutting the lead to 5-3. After another single, Montero was pulled in favor of Josh Smoker who walked the only batter he faced.

Paul Sewald was brought in with with the bases loaded and only one out. Sewald was able to get Howie Kendrick to hit into a sacrifice fly, and then Wilmer Difo popped out to end the inning.

In the seventh Sewald allowed back-to-back one out singles to Ryan Zimmerman and Matt Wieters. Michael Taylor then made it a one run game and ended Sewald’s day with an RBI double to left.

Jerry Blevins came on with two in scoring position and one out, and gave up a game tying sacrifice fly to Alejandro de Aza. However, Blevins was able to keep the game tied as Rafael Bautista flew out to end the inning.

Blevins hit Daniel Murphy with a pitch to lead off the eighth before being pulled for AJ Ramos. Howie Kendrick welcomed Ramos to the game with a base hit setting up runners at first and second with no men out. Ramos retired the next two batter before walking Ryan Zimmerman to load the bases with two outs. Matt Wieters grounded out to short, helping Ramos out of the inning and stranding the bases loaded.

Ramos secured a scoreless ninth inning, striking out both Michael Taylor and Alejandro de Aza. After Adam Lind singled, who else but Daniel Murphy strode to the plate with the Nationals down 6-5. After Edwin Jackson was brought in to pinch run for Lind, Murphy hit a ball to the right-center field gap. Right fielder Travis Taijeron went for the ball but bobbled it, however Juan Lagares was backing him up.

Lagares picked up the ball and fired it in to Amed Rosario the cut-off man, who relayed it to Travis d’Arnaud at the plate who put the tag on Jackson trying to score the tying run and ended the game.

Offense

The Mets were very home run-reliant Sunday afternoon in Washington.

New York came out flying from the first pitch. Brandon Nimmo led off the game with an infield single, then Juan Lagares was hit by a pitch. Asdrubal Cabrera then got the scoring started with by smacking a changeup over the right center field fence for the three run home run.

In the third, after a one-out Cabrera walk Wilmer Flores stepped to the plate. Flores extended the Mets lead to 5-0, jumping on a 1-0 changeup and smacking it over the left field fence. Flores has now homered in back-to-back games.

The Mets were held scoreless again until the eighth inning. After the National stormed back to tie the game at six, the Mets offense was looking for an answer.

With two outs, Amed Rosario stepped in facing Joe Blanton. Rosario fell behind 0-2 on two off-speed pitches. Blanton tried to sneak an 0-2 fastball by Rosario, however he was ready as he took the lead back for the Mets with a go-ahead solo home run.

Both Juan Lagares and Matt Reynolds went 2-for-4 on the day.

Up Next 

The Mets and Nationals play game two of the day-night doubleheader tonight at 8:08 on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. Seth Lugo will make his return from the disabled list for the Mets, and Tanner Roark will be on the mound for the Nationals.