After a long and disappointing month, the Mets have finally won three games in a row for the first time since April.
The New York Mets showed signs of life in their recent series against the Washington Nationals. After losing eight of their previous ten games, the Mets appear to be getting back on track. They swept the Nationals in a three-game series in DC, with several factors contributing to their success.
Bullpen Holds Off Washington in a Nail-Biter
Monday night’s game saw the Mets almost blow a game that they should have won easily. But that is not shocking at all. Lately, the Mets have been blowing up games in later innings which explains the reason for their struggles. A reason for that was due to their mediocre bullpen who looks short-handed thanks to injuries that have started to pile up. Luckily, they were able to escape DC with the win. But other factors also played a reason for this victory over Washington.
The offense did not get going until the second inning when OF Harrison Bader brought the Mets their first run of the night, driving in OF Starling Marte. Washington would respond later in the inning on an RBI single by OF Jesse Winker, tying the game at one a piece. The Mets would not score another until the fourth inning.
In the fourth, New York took the lead on a solo home run by 3B Mark Vientos. Since his call up back to the majors, Vientos has been red-hot. The Mets tacked on another run on a two-out RBI single by SS Francisco Lindor, driving in UTL Jose Iglesias. The Nationals would retake the lead later in the inning on a three-run bomb by OF Joey Gallo.
The Mets then scored three times in the next inning. It all started with a two-out single by Iglesias, followed by a two-run double by C Luis Torrens making it 7-4. Washington would make things interesting in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded, they would score on another run, cutting New York’s lead to just two.
The team kept scoring for the night. They provided some breathing on a two-run single by Starling Marte driving in two. Things would not start to get out of hand until the ninth inning. The Mets bullpen almost blew another close game that almost extended their losing streak. It would allow two more runs to score. New York can exhale as they were able to escape with a win.
Starting Pitching Finally Pays Off
The Mets haven’t seen a decent performance coming from their starters in a while. Tuesday’s game against Washington finally showed it. On the mound for New York was LHP David Peterson making his second start since coming off the IL. He was incredibly efficient, getting a lot of ground balls and limiting hard contact. Peterson allowed only two runs for the rest of the game. More importantly, he would record his first win of the season.
Then there was the offense. The hitting was silent until the fourth inning. Harrison Bader launched a two-run homer to left center giving the team an early 2-0 lead.
New York added three more runs in the fifth. It all started with a one-out triple by Starling Marte bringing in two runs to score. Vientos would later follow through with a sacrifice fly to bring home Marte. Washington would eventually get on the board in the bottom of the inning. OF Jacob Young singled, bringing Winker across to score.
The Mets would not score another run into the ninth inning. 1B Pete Alonso recorded the Mets final run of the evening with a solo jack to left field.
Luis Severino Continues to Look Solid
The team couldn’t ask for a better start for Luis Severino. So far this season he has been a solid pitcher in the rotation. The veteran would give New York much-needed length start with eight strong innings of one-run ball in the series finale.
Newly picked up veteran, C Luis Torres, started the scoring for the Mets as he would go deep for his first homer of the year. He would homer again in the fourth inning, but he wasn’t alone. Francisco Lindor would join him as the teammates took LHP Patrick Corbin deep on back-to-back jacks.
They weren’t the only players that helped the offense come through. Other contributors such as Bader, OF Tyrone Taylor, Vientos, and Iglesias all provided runs backing up starter Severino.
The Mets earned two days of rest as they now tour England before the London Series against the Philadelphia Phillies this weekend.
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