New York Mets starter Noah Syndergaard had trouble finding consistency in his first start of the season. While serviceable enough, the 26-year-old right-hander was guilty of leaving a few pitches over the heart of the plate on Saturday versus the Nationals — and he paid for his transgressions.

He pitched himself out of a few jams, was using his wide array of pitches to their full potential, and definitely looked the part of Thor at times. Unfortunately, and not to any concerning extent, he missed a few of his pitches. This will happen, folks.

As luck would have it, the Mets’ offense bailed Syndergaard out and, despite a close call in the ninth, and emerged victorious over the Nats, 11-8, for their second win of 2019.

Syndergaard got touched up for one run in the first (Juan Soto RBI single to score Anthony Rendon, who hit an opposite-field double in the previous at-bat), but otherwise looked solid, striking out Adam Eaton, who was fooled badly on a 3-2 slider, Trea Turner, who offered a half-swing at another slide piece for the second out, and Ryan Zimmerman on a nasty changeup after falling behind 3-0 to end the frame.

Syndergaard drew a second-inning leadoff walk in his first plate appearance of the season, advanced to second on Brandon Nimmo‘s sacrifice bunt (not exactly; it appeared to be an attempt at a base hit), and scored on Pete Alonso‘s frozen rope double over Victor Robles‘ head in centerfield to help his own cause and extend the Mets’ lead to 4-1.

Noah pitched a perfect second frame, benefitting from a very nice play by J.D. Davis at third base who nabbed a hard-hit groundball off the bat of Nats backstop Kurt Suzuki. He jammed Brian Dozier to induce a weak fly ball to Jeff McNeil in left field and struck out his counterpart, Stephen Strasburg.

Victor Robles, leading off the third, crushed a Syndergaard offering (97 MPH four-seamer on the inner-half of the plate) nearly 400 feet, cutting the Mets lead to 4-2, then the 26-year-old right-hander hit Eaton in the tricep in the next at-bat.

Syndergaard retired Turner on a close play at first (started on a good play by Amed Rosario to keep his hard-hit ball in the infield), then struck out Rendon on a tailing 99 MPH outside fastball, but allowed an opposite-field single to Soto, plating his second run of the game to score Eaton and cut the Mets’ lead to 4-3.

Syndergaard needed just nine pitches to retire the Nats in the fourth, inducing three groundball outs via Suzuki, Dozier, and Strasburg.

He allowed a leadoff single to Robles in the fourth, then caught the Nats rookie leaning the wrong way at first and fired off a perfect pickoff throw to erase the runner. Nats manager Davey Martinez took his full 30 seconds (and then some) to weigh challenging the call (the Nats had a strong case), but ultimately decided against it.

After setting down Eaton, Turner shot a two-out double down the third base line, but Syndergaard caught Rendon looking at a 99 MPH heater (on the black again) to leave him stranded. Big pitch in a big spot; vintage Syndergaard.

Soto notched his third hit of the game, a double made possible by the 20-year-old’s incredible speed and heads-up baserunning to kick off the sixth. Zimmerman moved him along on his groundout, and Suzuki tied the game at four with a well-hit sacrifice fly to right field. Syndergaard struck out Brian Dozier swinging at a 98 MPH four-seamer to end the frame and close out his afternoon.

Over six innings pitched (103 pitches; 69 strikes), Syndergaard allowed four earned runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and no bases-on-balls.

Syndergaard pounded the strike zone often, consistently sitting in the high 90s with his fastball and working in his curve, slider, and changeup with fine results. As per baseballsavant.com, the right-hander may have grooved one fastball too many.

After the game, the hulking righty spoke to the Mets media corps, referring to a few of his teammates as members of the animal kingdom (video via SNY), and seems to appreciate what his new backstop, Wilson Ramos brings to the table.

“I thought [my pickoff move] was a pretty good one today, quick, like a cat,” he said, sticking to his animal theme. “I trust whatever Buffalo [Ramos] calls.”

As long as Syndergaard can work on keeping his location in check and continue to bring the assortment of weapons he does each time he steps on the mound, he’s going to be just fine this season — maybe even better.