The Mets can throw some rubber around after all. Combining strong pitching with several outstanding defensive plays, the New York Mets beat the Washington National, 4-0, to take the rubber game of the three game series. Mets starter Taijuan Walker was effective leading the Amazin’s to their second shut-out in three days. Along with some timely hitting, the Mets climbed back over .500 as they await a visit from the Boston Red Sox starting Tuesday.

At the plate

The Mets were facing veteran southpaw Patrick Corbin today. With one out in the first inning, Pete Alonso drew a walk. One batter later, J.D Davis crushed a hanging breaking ball 406 feet to left center for his second home run of the season, giving the Mets a 2-0 lead.

With one out in the second inning, Jonathan Villar laced a single to left field for his seventh hit of this young season. Villar was picked off just three pitches later, the second pickoff of the game. Albert Almora grounded out to end the inning.

J.D. Davis led off the fourth inning with his second hit of the day. Michael Conforto followed this with a long double to left field, leaving runners on second and third with nobody out for James McCann. McCann drove in a run with a single into left field, extending the Mets lead to 3-0. Almora drew a walk to leave the bases loaded with one out for Walker. After striking out Walker, Corbin struck out Nimmo on a very generous call by home plate umpire Doug Eddings, limiting the damage to just one run.

On the second pitch of the fifth inning, Pete Alonso crushed a Corbin fastball 439 feet to dead center field for his fifth home run of the season. Francisco Lindor lined a single into left field, ending Corbin’s day. The Mets tagged the lefty for seven hits as his struggles continue.

New Nationals pitcher Austin Voth was greeted rudely. Davis collected his third hit of a day, a bloop single into right field. Conforto thought he had a sacrifice fly but the call was overturned after Lindor didn’t touch home plate on his slide. McCann would strike out to end the inning.

On The Mound

Taijuan Walker got the ball for the Mets today, making his fourth start in the orange and blue. On the first pitch of the ballgame, Josh Harrison roped a single into right field. This single wouldn’t hurt the Mets as Walker picked Harrison off six pitches later. Walker surrendered a walk to Yadiel Hernandez. He advanced to second on a wild pitch. Trea Turner lined out to right-field and Josh Bell lined out to second base to end the inning.

Walker pitched an easy 2nd inning, retiring the Nationals 1-2-3 on just 13 pitches. Walker induced a popup and a groundout while also collecting the first strikeout of his outing, striking out Starlin Castro.

It was an entertaining start to the third inning for Walker. Victor Robles hit a line-drive double to right center, Robles tried to leg out a triple but two perfect relay throws from Conforto and Villar prevented that from happening. Walker then surrendered a four-pitch walk to the pitcher Corbin. Harrison lined one back to Walker which deflected off his glove, meaning the Mets only got the force out at second. Hernandez then singled to put runners on first and second with two outs. Walker escaped the inning as Turner hit a deep flyball to the right field to end the inning.

Walker pitched an easy fourth inning on eight pitches. He collected a strikeout of Kyle Schwarber on the way.

On the first pitch of the fifth inning, Yan Gomes hit a screaming line drive which Lindor made a fantastic jumping catch to his left-hand side to retire Gomes. Walker needed just four more pitches to retire Robles and strike out Corbin to end the inning.

Walker retired Harrison before walking Hernandez and hitting Turner with a pitch. Walker had retired eight in a row before walking Hernandez. Josh Bell grounded into a force-out, leaving runners on the corners with two outs. On a 0-2 pitch, Schwarber hit a deep fly ball to center field which Almora made an amazing leaping catch to end the inning, saving two runs.

Walker stayed in to pitch the seventh inning for the Mets. On the first pitch, Castro hit a sharp groundball which was fielded nicely by Davis at third who threw a bullet to Alonso for the first out. Walker struck out Gomes. Robles grounded out to third base to end the inning.

This ended a fantastic outing from Taijuan Walker, his final line:
7 IP 3 H 0 R 0 ER 3 BB 4 K

Miguel Castro came in to pitch the eighth inning for the Mets, making his seventh appearance this season. He allowed a leadoff single to Andrew Stevenson. After striking out Harrison, Yadiel Hernandez singled to the center to put runners on first and second with one out. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third. Castro struck out the pinch hitter Ryan Zimmerman and Bell to strand two runners in scoring position.

Edwin Diaz came in to pitch the ninth inning in a non-save situation. Schwarber hit a lazy fly ball to left field for the first out of the inning. Castro lined out to Almora in center field for the second out. Alonso made a lovely diving stop to his right to end the game, securing the shutout and securing the series win for the Mets.

On Deck

The Mets have an off day on Monday before hosting the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. David Peterson will get the ball for the Mets facing veteran Garrett Richards. The first pitch is at 7:10 pm EST. This game is televised on SNY and broadcast on WCBS 880.