Mets vs. Nationals Game 20 Recap

Mets catcher Tomas Nido (Credits to MetsMerizedOnline.com)

The New York Mets defeated the Washington Nationals 8-2 this afternoon and improved their record to 9-11 on the season. In the bottom of the second inning, DH Dom Smith drove in the first run of the game with a solo homer, his second consecutive game with a homer. In the bottom of the fourth, Smith doubled and then catcher Tomas Nido came up and delivered with a two-run homer. In the bottom of the fifth inning, RF Michael Conforto and 1B Pete Alonso singled, SS Andres Giminez walked to load the based and Nimo came up and broke the game open with a grand slam which brought his OPS (on base plus slugging) to 1,257. In the bottom of the eighth, centetfielder Billy Hamilton, Conforto and Alonso all hit singles which brought in Hamilion for his first run scored as a Met and also had his first hit as a Met today.

LHP David Peterson got off to a rocky start in the top of the first inning after he gave up a lead-off walk to SS Trea Turner and then CF Adam Eaton reached base after Nido made a throwing error to put runners on second and third. Peterson walked 2B Starlin Castro to load the bases, but came back to struck out Nationals star LF Juan Soto. He gave up a RBI ground-out to DH Howie Kendrick, but was helped out by his defense after LF Jeff McNeil robbed 1B Asdrubal Cabrera of an extra base hit after he made an amazing catch to preserve at least two runs, but also his banged his knee into the wall and had to carted off the field. Peterson settled in after that and retired nine of the next 10 batters he faced. He didn't allow his first hit until the top the fourth inning. Peterson showed off his slider which had a lot of break against the lefty hitters and also threw his fastball well at 93 mph and mixed it his curveball as well. He was taken out after the top of the fifth inning with 74 pitches since he felt soreness in his shoulder, but he said it was nothing to be concerned about. His final line was 5 innings, 1 hit, 1 run (0 earned), 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. He picked up his third win on the season and lowered his ERA to 2.91. RHP Jared Hughes came in next in the top of the sixth homer and gave up a solo homer to Soto, but didn't allow any more in the innings. Hughes stayed in for the top of the seventh and threw a scoreless inning. RHP Edwin Diaz followed in the top of the eighth and worked out a jam with two runners on base by striking out Kendrick and Cabrera to end the inning and struck out Cabrera with a 100 mph fastball. RHP Brad Brach came on in the top of the ninth and got the first two outs, but then gave up two hits and a walk to load the based, but retired Castro to end the game.

The Mets next game is tomorrow night in Philadelphia against the Phillies at 7:05 p.m.