Mets Hang On To Beat Nationals 7-5 Powered by Lindor and Nimmo

 

Mets SS Francisco Lindor and LF Brandon Nimmo (Photo Credits to Wendell Cruz-USA Today Sports)

The New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 7-5 tonight at Citi Field to improve their record back to .500 at 45-45.

After a scoreless bottom of the first, 2B Jeff McNeil drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the sixth and then CF Harrison Bader followed with a single.

SS Francisco Lindor then hit a RBI single and LF Brandon Nimmo followed with a three-run homer to the opposite field.

In the bottom of the sixth, Bader hit another two-out single and then Lindor followed with a two-run homer.

In the bottom of the eighth, pinch-hitter Tyrone Taylor led off with a triple and two batters later, 2B Jeff McNeil drove in a much needed insurance run with a RBI double.

LHP Jose Quintana had another outstanding start with seven scoreless innings.

Quintana allowed one hit and one walk with five strikeouts and retired the last 13 hitters he faced.

He picked up his fourth win and lowered his ERA to 3.91.

RHP Adam Ottavino came on in the top of the eighth and gave up a two-run homer to pinch-hitter Ildemaro Vargas and recorded only one out.

RHP Dedniel Nunez came in next and picked up the last two outs in the eighth.

RHP Reed Garrett followed in the top of the ninth and got into trouble after allowing a lead-off double and then a two-run homer to catcher Keibert Ruiz.

Garrett came back to retire the next two hitters he faced and then walked CF Jacob Young and was taken out.

RHP Edwin Diaz had to come in and gave up a wild pitch to allow any run to score, but then struck out SS C.J. Abrams for the last out of the game and picked up his ninth save.

The Mets next game is tomorrow night, Wednesday, July 10 at home against the Nationals at 7:10 p.m.