The Mets came into the day hoping for an opening series sweep of the Nationals, but eventually fell to the divisional rival on a Trea Turner walk-off home run in the 9th inning. It was his second homer in a 3 Run 4 RBI effort for the young shortstop, who also added a stolen base to the cause.
The series was sold as a matchup of two of the best rotations in baseball, but today’s game did not live up to the hype as Mets starter Zack Wheeler struggled through five innings. With Patrick Corbin batting in the 8th hole, second-leadoff hitter Victor Robles started off the 3rd with a double to left, and in a blink of an eye two batters later Turner made it a 3-0 lead.
Wheeler’s final game line was 5 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, and 7 Ks, while Corbin had 6 IP with only 2 ER.
More pivotal than starting pitching to this game was each team’s respective relief corps, with the Mets striking for three runs on five singles in the 8th against the Nationals pen to tie the game. However, Justin Wilson gave up the game-ending homer to Turner in the 9th.
On the offensive end a few Mets hitters continued to impress, most notably Pete Alonso who went 2/4 with a walk and an RBI double.
Mickey sure managed some kind of game first by not hitting for Nido in the sixth with a runner on down by two, then double switching Nimmo out so Tim Peterson could come in when Nimmo was an elite hitter last year and slow start aside should be real good this year, and his spot in the lineup came up in the 8th with runners on, oops. Mickey saved his best for last by not bringing in Familia to face Turner and Rendon and the result was predictable.
Mickey might not have been the most incompetent person in the ballpark, as Carlos Torres behind the plate didn’t call an obvious strike three on I believe Soto and Soto drove in the fourth run on the next pitch. I believe Wilson was squeezed on the pitch before Turner walked off. Oh and Mickey saving Diaz for a save situation that never came was predicable.
Wheeler was better than his pitching line he just was too predictable with him starting everyone off with inside fsstballs to start off at bats and paid for it in the third inning.
At least we took two out of three.
David, try a cup of cheer buddy.
Today’s game will be a learning experience for the Mets. For the next 16 games against the Nationals, the next inside pitch Turner sees must be above the bellybutton. He will need to prove that he can drive the outside pitch out, and on both homeruns he was able the drop the barrel on crappy fastballs. Further, Wheeler said his pitch mix was terrible and I agree.
I was very happy with the guys battling back in Washington to tie this game. A win would have been nice, but even without Turner’s homerun, we don’t know what would have happened in extras. This Nationals team will have to piece many hits together as they lack a big thumper, but they seem to be able to do that so far this year. Boy, the San Diego Padres must be the idiots of all time to trade Turner after they just drafted him and watch him go straight to the majors and excel with Washington. Someday when MLBN runs a show for top ten boneheaded moves of all-time, the Padres parting with Turner needs to be on it. Turner has become a Mets-killer of Braves-ian proportions. Hope Kelenic isn’t that player for the Mariners!
Rays had Turner for a hot minute and flipped him for Souza, oops,
Three way deal. Souza went to Tampa, Myers went to Padres, Turner went to Washington. Rays never wanted Turner, they wanted the slugger Souza, they were merely carrying out their end. Oops.
Very Impressed with Alonzo’s ab’s in the series. Very Selective…. FastFast Bat and Major Pop without a Complete Sellout Swing
I will take two out of three in Washington anytime. Gus, this isn’t a learning experience it is Big Business and if you’re not capable then you’re not going to survive. I like Calloways philosophy of resting people but Ramos or McNeil didn’t need to be sat against Washington. They sat on Friday. I also don’t like the way Callaway used his bullpen in the 7th inning. He was down two runs and used three pitchers in that inning thus hamstrung the bullpen. I can’t wait for the new rule that a pitcher has to face three batters. It will protect managers from over managing and all managers over manage in this day and age. Philosophically the rule goes against my grain but these pitching changes just don’t make sense to me.
I’m very pleased that they won the series. Now let’s go fry some fish!
Have no issue with small ball and have always liked the table setter approach with big bats to drive them in. Concerned that except for opening day Cano, we did not hit the ball out of the park. It shows that while we have guys who can hit home runs we lack the big bat (Ces) in the lineup who is a threat each time up to hit one out and quickly take advantage of a pitchers mistake like Trey Turner did. As I’ve said before, who in the Mets lineup strikes fear in an opposing pitcher?
All that aside how can we not be happy with 2 of 3 in Washington?! 2 of 3 each time wins the division. Wheeler did his job but now we see how effective Matz and Vargas will be. #Letsgomets
Rest aside—tough lefty, and Good teams keep Bench guys ready….and your bench now has lefty PH’s ready for late game ab’s