Mets Sweep Nats In Extras
The Washington Nationals were projected to be the team to win the NL East. Some even predicted them to win the National League pennant. Kenley Jansen of the Los Angeles Dodgers was quoted to saying that the NL East's only competition were the Nats.
While this may still hold true by the end of the season, the New York Mets are doing everything in their power to prove everyone wrong. The Mets swept the Nats this weekend after a 6-5 12 inning win. Mickey Callaway has done a spectacular job so far in his first 8 games with the Mets.
Mets starter Matt Harvey was not as crisp as his last start against the Philadelphia Phillies. Harvey pitched 5 innings and gave up 4 runs, 9 hits and a walk while striking out 2. Harvey did not factor into the decision as Robert Gsellman blew the save in the 7th inning.
Seth Lugo factored in as the winning pitcher in this one. Lugo pitched 3 innings and struck out 3 despite giving up 3 walks and a hit. Lugo is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP. Despite allowing a double in the 12th, Jacob Rahme came on and got his first save.
The big bat of the game belonged to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez went 1-5 with a grand slam. Gonzalez is batting .261 with 1 home run and 5 RBIs.
Things didn't start so well for the Mets at first. In the bottom of the 1st with one out, Anthony Rendon dumped a single into right center. Then, Bryce Harper hit a 93-mph four-seemed fastball down the plate 368 feet for a two-run home run. This gave the Nats a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the 3rd with two outs, Jay Bruce drew a walk. Then, Todd Frazier and Asbrubal Cabrera also drew walks to load the bases off starting pitcher Tanner Roark. Gonzalez then hit the first pitch he saw 402 feet over the right field wall for a grand slam and give the Mets a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the 4th, Howie Kendrick lead off with a single to right. After Trea Turner forced Kendrick at second on a fielder's choice grounder, Michael A. Taylor's ground out to third allowed Turner to go to second. Pedro Severino then laced a double to left center to score Turner and cut the Mets lead to 4-3. Roark then reached after Harvey could not field a bunt. Adam Eaton was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. However, Rendon flied out to left to end the inning.
In the top of the 5th with 2 outs, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a 2-1 four-seamed fastball 367 feet over the right field wall to give the Mets a 5-3 lead. In the bottom of the 5th, Harper lined a single to left to lead off. Matt Adams then drew a walk. However, Kendrick grounded into a double play with the runners out at first and second. Then, Turner lined a single to left to score Haper and cut the Mets lead to 5-4. Taylor then reached on an infield single. However on the same play, Turner tried to score but was tagged out at home to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 7th with Gsellman pitching, Harper lead off with a walk. After Adams struck out, Kendrick singled to center. Turner then hit a grounder to third in which Frazier tagged out Harper. Taylor then dumped a single to left to score Kendrick to tie the game at 5-5.
In the bottom of the 9th with Lugo pitching, the Nationals had an opportunity to win the game. Harper lead off by drawing a walk. Harper then stole second on the next pitch. Adams' fly out to center allowed Harper to go to third. The Mets then intentionally put on Kendrick and Turner to load the bases with just one out. However, Lugo got Taylor and Severino to strike out to end the inning.
In the top of the 12th, pinch hitter Juan Lagares lead off with a single to center. Amed Rosario's sacrifice bunt allowed Lagares to go to second. After Michael Conforto was intentionally walked, Yoenis Cespedes dumped a single into center to score Lagares and give the Mets the 6-5 win.
With the win, the Mets are now 7-1 with a game and a half lead on the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. On one bit of news, the Mets announced that Zack Wheeler will start against the Miami Marlins. Speaking of the Marlins, the Mets begin a three game series in Miami on Monday. Noah Syndergaard will get the start for the Mets against Jose Urena. The game starts at 7:10 pm and can be seen on SNY or heard on 710am WOR and 1050am ESPN Deportes.
