Mets Beat Nationals 4-1 To Take Series Led By Taijuan Walker and Mark Canha

Mets RHP Taijuan Walker (Photo Credits to Geoff Burke-USA 

The New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 4-1 this afternoon at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. to take two out of three games in the series and improved their record to 22-11.

The offense got off to a fast start in the top of the first after CF Brandon Nimmo led off with a walk and two batters SS Francisco Lindor walked.

1B Pete Alonso struck out and then 2B Jeff McNeil walked to load the bases.

LF Mark Canha came up and delivered a two-run single.

After scoreless innings in the top of the second and third, Canha led off the top of the fourth with an infield single and 3B J.D. Davis followed with a hit by pitch.

3B Luis Guillorme then grounded into a double play, but catcher Tomas Nido delivered with a RBI single.

The bats did not do much for the next four innings, but in the top of the ninth Canha capped off his stellar day at the plate with a solo homer.

RHP Taijuan Walker cruised through the first three innings and ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth after RF Juan Soto lead off with a double. 

Walker was then helped out by his defense on a bizarre play after the following hitter 1B Josh Bell hit a grounder to 3B Luis Guillorme and then Walker tagged out Soto in a rundown.

Walker then tried to throw Bell out at second, but he overthrew it and it went into right field, but fortunately RF Starling Marte was there to back up the play and threw Bell out trying to advance to third.

Walker settled down after that and had scoreless innings in the bottom of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings innings. 

He battled through injuries and fatigue and had a terrific outing.

His final line was 7 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk and 1 strikeout.

He picked up his first win and lowered his ERA to 3.00.

RHP Seth Lugo came in next in the bottom of the eighth and had a dominating 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts.

RHP Edwin Diaz came on in the bottom of the ninth and struck out the first two hitters he faced, and after allowing a solo homer to Soto, he was able to get Bell to pop out to end the game.

The Mets next game is tomorrow night, Friday May 13th back home at Citi Field against the Seattle Mariners at 7:10 p.m.