To say that the Mets started off this series with a lack of energy and an inability to find their rhythm is putting it rather lightly. Yet the team was able to build up their momentum again with back to back wins.

Thursday’s win featured amazing performances both defensively and offensively, winning by a landslide with a score of 8-2, most of which was due to Tomas Nido‘s contribution of six runs batted in.

The other two runs from a single home run by Dominic Smith and Billy Hamilton making it home on an RBI single from Alonso.

Newcomer David Peterson started tonight’s game only allowing one run with one hit over the five innings he pitched. With other run being attributed to Juan Soto hitting a home run off of Jared Hughes, despite this, the Mets were able to secure their win with solid outings from the rest of their pitchers.

Pitching

David Peterson had a rough break to start the game after allowing a leadoff walk to Trea Turner. Adam Eaton then reached on an error from Tomas Nido, putting runners on second and third. The young pitcher, struggling to find his rhythm, proceeded to walk Starlin Castro to load the bases with no outs. 

After Howie Kendrick got an RBI single off of Peterson’s foot making the score 1-0 Nationals, Jeff McNeil made an amazing play robbing a big hit from Asdrubal Cabrera to retire the side. McNeil had to be carted out of the game, the outfielder hitting the wall violently to make the play. 

Despite hitting Juan Soto with a pitch and allowing a single to Yan Gomes in the fourth and fifth respectively, Peterson managed to finish out his start unscathed with some help from his defense, the pitcher exiting the game in the sixth with Jared Hughes coming in to relieve him.

Jared Hughes didn’t last long before he allowed a home run to Juan Soto, who seems to be the Mets’ kryptonite in this series, lessening the Mets lead to 7-2 in the sixth. 

After getting through the seventh without a hitch, Hughes was relieved by Edwin Diaz, who allowed a single to Eaton to start the eighth.

Diaz worked his way out of a jam having two on base with a pair of strikeouts to Kendrick and Cabrera to finish the side, displaying a great 100 mph fastball.  

Brad Brach entered the ninth and retired the first two batters, but quickly struggled to get the last out as his command wavered. Despite losing some steam, the pitcher worked his way out of trouble, eventually ending the game with Starlin Castro grounding out to the mound.

Offense

Brandon Nimmo started the first with a leadoff double, his fourth of the year. Despite stealing third, he was stranded with the Mets unable to get the ball in play. 

Dominic Smith took the Nationals deep with an opposite-field single home run tying the score in the bottom of the second. 

Smith hit a long double to center field in the bottom of the fourth for his fourth hit of the series as Tomas Nido hit a two-run 106 mph homer to the apple making the score 3-1 Mets.

Chants were heard from the dugout, bringing the hope of some elevated energy for what has been a rather lackluster season. 

Luis Guillorme continued the momentum with a single and only one away. Nimmo was then walked but the inning was eventually ended on a 6-4-3 double play. 

After a pair of singles from Michael Conforto and Pete Alonso and a walk to Andres Gimenez, Nido hit a grand slam in the fifth to give the Mets a 7-1 lead bringing his OPS to 1.257. 

Nimmo got yet another leadoff walk giving him his eighteenth of the season a walk to Hamilton to follow with no outs. The two were left on base as the rest of the side struck out. 

Hamilton, Conforto, and Alonso with back-to-back singles bringing home Hamilton for his first RBI as a Met, giving the team a six-run lead in the bottom of the eighth.

On Deck

The Mets head to Philadelphia for their first game against the Phillies. Jacob deGrom will be taking the mound (2-0 2.45 ERA) with the opposing pitcher still yet to be announced. 

DeGrom seemed to struggle a bit in his last outing due to an issue with his thumb, but that still not saying much as the 32-year-old was nothing short of elite. 

The first pitch will be at 7:05 PM on Friday, August 14th. The game will be televised by SNY and broadcast on WCBS 880-AM.