Final Recap: Mets 9 – Nationals 7
The New York Mets (47-38) defeated the Washington Nationals (51-36) tonight by the final score of 9-7. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…
Game Notes:
- Wilmer Flores took center stage tonight by swatting a 3-run HR in the bottom of the fifth to give the Mets the lead after being down 6-4. He finished the game 1-2.
- Jose Reyes was 1-5 with a solo HR.
- Travis d’Arnaud was 1-5 with a solo HR.
- Asdrubal Cabrera was 2-4 with a solo HR.
- Curtis Granderson was 3-4 with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored.
- Yoenis Cespedes was 2-3 with an RBI double.
- Jeurys Familia converted his league leading 31st save of the season.
Down by 1 run? No problem. Down by 3 runs? No problem. Down by 2 runs? No problem. These were the deficits the Mets came back from in order tonight as they consistently rallied against the Nationals, and took the first game of this pivotal four game series. The Mets did not lay down tonight and continued to show the fight they have shown all homestand.
The Mets belted out 15 hits tonight and got into a home run derby with the Nationals as both teams combined for eight home runs, which is a Citi Field record. Also what more can you say about the week Wilmer Flores is having?! Flores stepped into the box, pinch-hitting for James Loney with the Mets trailing 6-4, and cracked a three-run bomb into the left field seats. Flores has been proving that his bat belongs in the lineup all week, and he is going to make it tough on Terry Collins to fill out the lineup card everyday without his name in it. It was also awesome to see Jose Reyes crack a solo home run into the top deck in right field and get the loud “Jo-se Jo-se Jo-se” chant by the Mets faithful tonight. It was Reyes first home run with the Mets since September 27, 2011.
The game ended with a bit of controversy as Jayson Werth and Daniel Murphy were both called out in the top of the ninth inning on a controversial double play. Asdrubal Cabrera made a great diving stop on a Daniel Murphy hit, and Werth appeared to slide legally into Neil Walker to break up a double play. Werth who was out anyway, was incensed when Murphy was called out at first base due to umpire Jim Joyce claiming he violated the new slide rules. Personally I am not a fan of these new slide rules, and I believe a runner should only be called out if they deliberately go out of their way to take out the infielder, such as Chase Utley last postseason. Nats GM and President Mike Rizzo had gotten into a shouting match with Jim Joyce after the game and I’m sure Major League Baseball will step in after that incident. But as a Mets fan that was a win I’ll take as the Mets certainly have had their fair share of breaks go the other way this season.
Oh and by the way, if Daniel Murphy keeps hitting at this pace against the Mets, it is going to be a long three seasons while he is under contract with the Nationals. Murphy is seeing red when playing his former ball club, and he may give Chipper Jones a run for his money as the all-time Met killer at the pace he is swinging the bat. Murphy is currently hitting .425 with five home runs and 14 RBIs in 10 games against the Mets this season. Ouch.
The Mets now sit three games out of first place with tonight’s win and are looking as good as they have all season on this current homestand. The Mets are now 7-1 on this pivotal season-high eleven-game homestand, and they have scored 55 runs with eight home runs over these eight games. The test will be a smidgen tougher tomorrow night to drive in runs, but I have no doubt this team right now will be up to the challenge. Let’s go Mets!
- The Mets and Nationals will do battle in the second game of their four game series tomorrow evening at 7:10 pm et. You can watch tomorrow’s game on SNY.
- Noah Syndergaard (9-3, 2.41 ERA) will make a final audition for manager Terry Collins to get the start in Tuesday night’s All Star Game, against Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg (11-0, 2.71 ERA) who is also auditioning for that starting spot.
Above The Mendoza 