Tempers Flare, McNeil Leads Mets Past Nationals 7-3

The New York Mets took on the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. on Friday night, the second meeting of a four game series. Max Scherzer made his much anticipated regular season Mets’ debut, facing his former team. The Mets won the contest 7-3, improving to 2-0 on the young season.

After a 1-2-3 first inning, Scherzer ran into some early trouble in the bottom of the second inning. He plunked Josh Bell and allowed a single up the middle to Keibert Ruiz. Nationals’ left-fielder Yadiel Hernández followed up with a long fly ball to bring in Bell for the first run of the night. Scherzer managed to escape further damage by getting Maikel Franco to fly out and striking out Alcides Escobar to end the inning.

Josiah Gray, whom the Nationals acquired along with starting catcher Ruiz in the Scherzer/Trea Turner deadline trade with the Dodgers last season, got the start for Washington. Gray retired the first six Mets’ hitters in order to start the game, but the New York offense would have the final word after all was said and done.

Jeff McNeil answered the Nationals second inning run by blasting a solo shot down the right field line in the third inning. McNeil, who turned 30 years old on the day, also homered on his 29th birthday last season.

The fourth inning would prove to be a busy one with both the Mets and Nationals scoring two runs a piece. In the top of the inning, Robinson Canó continued his strong start by ripping a base hit into the right-center field gap, bringing in Francisco Lindor and Eduardo Escobar. Canó ended up getting thrown out at the plate by Dee Strange-Gordon on a Tómas Nido single.

Bell then annihilated a 95 MPH fastball into the upper-deck for a two-run home run in the bottom of the inning, tying the game at three. A lead-off triple courtesy of Brandon Nimmo, followed up by a double down the left field line gave the Mets a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth inning.

Things got real interesting after Lindor was hit in the chin by a Steve Cishek fastball. Manager Buck Showalter, showing his displeasure towards Cishek and the Nationals’ dugout, led the Mets’ bench onto the field in a fury. Tempers were flaring, and rightfully so after Mets’ hitters were hit three times by Nationals’ pitchers on opening day. Most notably Pete Alonso being struck close to the face in the ninth inning.

Ultimately, three singles and a Nido sacrifice bunt improved the Mets’ lead to 6-3. A two out, two run-scoring hit from Starling Marte, who drove in three on the night, cemented the Mets’ victory. Scherzer also settled down in his final two innings of work. He allowed one walk to Nationals’ superstar Juan Soto, which was erased after Nelson Crúz grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. By game’s end, Scherzer settled in nicely after allowing three earned runs, finishing the day by striking out six Nationals’ hitters and allowing just one walk.

Player of the Game: Jeff McNeil

McNeil homered in his first at-bat to get the Mets on the board. He added another run batted in during the ninth inning on a base knock to center. McNeil reached base safely four out of his five at-bats, including a home run, a walk and two hits. He drove in and scored two runs of his own. Happy birthday Jeff!

On Deck:

The Mets and Nationals will play game three of their series on Saturday, April 9th at 7:05 PM ET. The Mets will look to improve to 3-0 with newly-acquired Chris Bassitt taking the mound for his own Mets’ debut.