The Mets used the long ball early and small ball late to pull out a 6-5 win Sunday night in 12 innings and earn a sweep of the three-game series in Washington against the Nationals.

In the top of the 12th, pinch-hitter Juan Lagares lined a single to center and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Amed Rosario. After an intentional walk to Michael Conforto, Yoenis Cespedes singled to center for the winning run.

Adrian Gonzalez cracked a grand slam to give the Mets a 4-2 lead and Asdrubal Cabrera added a solo blast to put the Mets up 5-3.

But the Nats chipped away with runs in the fifth and seventh innings to tie the game. And only poor fundamentals by Washington allowed the game to go to extra innings.

Seth Lugo pitched in and out of trouble but gave the Mets three scoreless innings to pick up the win. Jeurys Familia was unavailable after a five-out save on Saturday so the Mets turned to Jacob Rhame to close out the game. He allowed a two-out double but closed out the win by getting leadoff hitter Adam Eaton to ground out.

After going 13-25 against Washington the past two years, New York opens up 3-0 against the team everyone expects to win the NL East this season.

11 comments on “Gut Reaction: Mets 6, Nationals 5 (12 INN) 4/8/18

  • TexasGusCC

    Name asked me why I called this a lucky win, and I told him:
    – Uncompleted double plays
    – Tons of baserunners for the Nationals, especially with Harvey allowing 12 in five innings, if you include his fielding error.
    – Bad baserunning by Harper not going to third on that bad pickoff by Lugo in the ninth, allowing the Mets to pickup an out before he did.
    – And most important, the grand slam that wasn’t by Rendon off Harvey in the fifth only because a gale was blowing in from left.

    Happy for the win obviously, but man, I read that Harvey stood in front of the press and told us he was ok with his performance? He’s ok, with t h a t?

  • LongTimeFan1

    Actually. Harvey said he was pretty bad and unhappy with his performance.

    Both teams played sloppy in certain respects but at the end of the day the Mets got the win through successful execution and persistence.

    In every mistake is opportunity to improve and I believe this team has the players and leadership to embrace that.

    • TexasGusCC

      Thank you for that information. It makes me feel much better about his expectations.

      As for the win, taking it and running to Miami. Loading the bases left no margin for error, but Lugo pitched gutsy and with great purpose. It should be time to get Flores, Nimmo, and Lagares a bit more time, but the results are hard to quibble with.

      Also, Wheeler coming up on Wednesday and if he does well, I could see him stick. Sewald unfortunately looks to be the odd man out, as he has only pitched in one game, but last year he was dominant against righties and mediocre against lefties and it seems that is going to keep him out of Callaway’s trust, even though Sewald is more bulldog than Callaway realizes.

      I’m still wired from that win and can’t sleep, LOL!

      • Nymets6986

        I always find that good teams find a way to win games such as this one. The Mets pen has been incredible and the hitting has been timely from many different spots. Frasure has not been hitting much lately but how about his glove at third!! Very exited about this season #LGM

  • Nymets6986

    I always find that good teams find a way to win games such as this one. The Mets pen has been incredible and the hitting has been timely from many different spots. Frasure has not been hitting much lately but how about his glove at third!! Very exited about this season #LGM

  • MattyMets

    What a game! It felt like the playoffs. I ate through a bag of pistachios like a squirrel watching this extra inning nail biter.

    – Callaway is not only calculated; he’s gutsy. That decision to load up the bases with two intentional walks was masterful. He seems to have the touch. Even his questionable decision to let Rhame close wound up working out.

    – Nice to see A-Gon get the big hit

    – Why is Harvey throwing such a high percentage of fastballs?

    – What a great statement to sweep the Nats on the road in our first series.

    – Travis d’Arnaud couldn’t have thrown out Keith Hernandez.

  • Edwin Pena

    Amaaazin’s !
    As good game management as I can recall. Callaway has some Davey Johnson in him.

    The more W’s he gets, the more the players will respect and follow whatever he does and says. I like the way the BP has responded, surely Eiland has something to do with that. Mets needed change and hopefully the change in the training staff coupled with a little luck will keep the players on the field. Mets roster is as good as any in the NL, with possible exeption to the Cubs and Dodgers, but more depth than those teams. Keeping the players on the field was always the issue with this team. Now, time to beat up on those teams that they are supposed to beat – Marlins and Braves up next, take 4 even 5 of six from those guys !

  • Mike Walczak

    Great win. Teams that have really good seasons seem to get a lot of wins like that. Harper is a machine. Looks like an MVP season for him and a huge payday.

    Lugo has a great curveball. I wonder why he didn’t use it more.

    Rosario redeemed himself with the bunt. He needs to watch how he holds the bat, or he may break a finger. He had a rough game. Seemed to have a rock in his glove. I like him, but he concerns me, takes strikes and swings at balls.

    Happy for Agon.

    On to the Marlins.

  • TexasGusCC

    From Tim Healey at Newsday:

    “Cespedes, who had been 0-for-5 with three strikeouts and has been fighting a fever, singled to center.”

  • David Groveman

    Not happy with those batting lines. We cannot maintain this level of success without better hitting.

  • John Fox

    Great game. And from the sound of the crowd, seemed like there about as many Met fans as there were Nats fams at the game

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