The Mets swept the Nationals Tuesday night, giving them 100 wins on the year. But the Braves beat the Marlins, 2-1, to clinch the National East title. Perhaps if the Mets had held the Braves to two runs in any game this past weekend, they would be the East winners. But it’s all water under the bridge now.
The Mets took the first game by a 4-2 score, with Brandon Nimmo being the star. He hit a two-run double in the second inning to give the Mets the lead and his solo homer in the fourth extended the lead to 4-0.
Carlos Carrasco gave up a two-run homer in the fifth inning and Buck Showalter pulled him before he could record an out in the inning. Carrasco has now allowed 15 ER in his last 27.2 IP. That makes his ERA 4.88 in his last seven games, despite facing five teams in that stretch who are below .500 for the year. He’s in jeopardy of not making the postseason roster.
But the Mets got five scoreless innings from the pen in the opener, with Edwin Diaz going 1.1 IP for his 31st save of the year.
In the nightcap, the Mets scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning, with the first three hitters providing back-to-back-to back homers, marking the first time in franchise history that the team opened the game with three straight home runs. It was the second homer of the doubleheader for Nimmo, who finished the two games going 6-8 with a double and three extra-base hits.
Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil also homered in the first inning for the Mets. Francisco Alvarez came on mid-game and blasted two extra-base hits in his two trips to the plate. He had a double with a 107.8 exit velocity and a 439-foot homer that had a 108.9 EV.
Taijuan Walker pitched much better than Carrasco but was pulled once the Braves clinched the division. Stephen Nogosek pitched 2.2 scoreless frames and Tylor Megill added two more, giving the bullpen 9.2 shutout innings in the doubleheader.
The Mets are now 16-4 in doubleheader games this season and they earned their 19th shutout of the year.
Theres a game today, but I love the prognostication that they will sweep. Not that it matters.
Might as well call up Syracuse Mets to play today.
Meanwhile the SD series will be brutal. The Mets went 2-4 against the Padres, losing both series. Yu Darvish seems to treat our shitty hitters with complete disregard.
Gut Reaction: another series win, another sweep of DH, avoiding a four game losing streak all of this year , a 100 victory season which resulted into a very successful season. But they didn’t win the division…. so disappointing.
Nimmo should be signed this off season. McNeil has a four point lead for the MLB batting average title. Alvarez cemented the RHB DH playoff position. Walker over Carrasco as the 4th starter. Peterson and Smith will make the playoff roster. May and Rodriguez also. Gore, Ruf and Williams will not. Vientos can if Marte is unable. Givins and Carrasco likely but Megill could replace either one.