Mets 8, Nationals 7 (Nationals Park, Washington, DC)
Mets Record: 25-35
Mets Streak: W1
Mets Last 10: 4-6
Winning Pitcher: Tylor McGill (1-2)
Losing Pitcher: MacKenzie Gore (4-5)
Save: Jake Diekman (2)
Seat On The Korner:
We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.
Today's Seat on the Korner goes to Jose Iglesias. Just recalled from the minors on Friday, the veteran infielder had three hits. His biggest hit was in the midst of the 4-run rally in the fifth. The Mets had taken a 3-1 lead in the fourth, but the Nationals came back with 3 two-out runs. The Mets rallied in their next at bat. Birthday boy Harrison Bader hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Iglesias, starting at second base against the lefty in place of the slumping Jeff McNeil, singled to give the Mets the lead. With the runner going from first, new catcher Luis Torrens doubled into the gap in right to score both runs. Every run was needed.
Need To Know
Harrison Bader turned 30 on Monday. Though the slick center fielder made an error and went hitless, he had 2 sacrifice flies.
The Mets are in a stretch where they are playing 26 games in 27 days, but some extra rest--and extra travel--are on the horizon . The Mets are on the road to two different national capitals: Washington through June 5 and then--after two glorious and much needed days off--the Mets go to London and play the Phillies twice in England's capital on June 8-9 before getting another day off and welcoming in the Marlins and Padres at Citi Field.
Coming into the game the Mets and Nationals (including their time as the Montreal Expos from 1969-2004) were dead even as opponents. In 936 games the teams were 468-468. After Monday, it's advantage Mets.
Turning Point
The turning point of the game today came in the bottom of the ninth of what had to feel like a recurring nightmare for Mets fans, who have witnessed more blown leads than any team in baseball. Just a day after breaking hearts by blowing a save in the ninth against the Arizona Diamondbacks, lefty Jake Diekman got another chance. Adam Ottavino put the tying and go-ahead runs on base before manager Carlos Mendoza made the move Mets fans were dreading. Joey Meneses came in to bat for the lefty-swinging Joey Gallo, who'd homered earlier in the game against starter Tylor Megill. Diekman battled back from 3-0 and kept him in the ballpark with a sacrifice fly to make it 8-7. Diekman fired 6 straight strikes after starting with 3 straight balls and got lefty-hitting catcher Drew Millas looking to win the first game of the road trip.
Three Keys
J.D. Hit and Run!
With a bloop single in the sixth, J.D. Martinez extended his hitting streak to 8. His two-out hit also started a two-out rally when Martinez inexplicably tried to go to third base on the strong arm of Lane Thomas. The ball bounced off Martinez and was retrieved by former Mets reliever Jake Barnes (who, by the way, has the same name as the bitter protagonist in Ernest Hemingway's classic The Sun Also Rises). Barnes--the pitcher--then inexplicably threw behind the runner and it went into right field to score J.D. That made the score 8-5 and turned out to be the difference in the game
Nimmo's Glove Love
In the bottom of the sixth inning, when Adrian Houser gave up a couple of two-out hits, Brandon Nimmo tracked a fly ball toward the stands in left and snagged the foul ball just before it hit the net. That third out ended the jam and also concluded a string of five consecutive half innings in which the two teams went back and forth to the tune of 11 runs (7 by the Mets).
Vientos Keeps Hitting
Mark Vientos continued to be one of the most consistent Mets hitters during a rocky period for the club. He had 2 hits and a walk against Washington, including a 420-foot home run. Three other Mets had multiple hits: Julio Iglesisas and Starling Marte (3 apiece) plus 2 by Brandon Nimmo in a 13-hit effort in a game started by Washington's hottest starter MacKenize Gore. The lefty was touched for 6 earned runs after not allowing more than 3 ER in any of his 12 starts.
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