Noah Syndergaard rebounded nicely from the worst start of his career last time out, throwing seven shutout innings to lead the Mets to a 7-3 win over the Nationals. The Mets now are 11-6 this year versus the Nationals.
After allowing a leadoff single, Syndergaard retired 16 batters in a row. The Nationals had just three hits against Syndergaard, who did not walk a batter and struck out 10 in his dominating day. He still had gas in the tank, having thrown just 90 pitches, but with the Mets up seven, there was little reason to go to the whip.
Instead, this was the time to get the low-leverage relievers into the game. Tyler Bashlor had a quick eighth inning and was sent out for the ninth but didn’t have quite the same luck. He served up a three-run homer to Asdrubal Cabrera. Fortunately, Bashlor was pitching with a big lead and the homer did damage only to his ERA and WHIP. Edwin Diaz came on to get the final out, blowing away Matt Adams, the only batter he faced, with a strikeout.
There were plenty of offensive stars for the Mets. J.D. Davis, who didn’t get a chance to hit last night when the Mets were trying to rally, had three hits, two runs and two RBIs. Brandon Nimmo, making his first start in months, reached base his first three times up, with two walks, a double, a run and an RBI. Jeff McNeil hit a two-run homer, which hopefully will get him out of his mini slump. Wilson Ramos got the day off, so he did not get a chance to extend his hitting streak. But Rene Rivera did his best Ramos impression, with two hits and a walk, both driving in and scoring a run in the process.
The Mets have now won three of four games in this six-game road trip versus division rivals. Tuesday night promises to be a great game, with the Mets sending Jacob deGrom to the mound to square off against Max Scherzer.
Rene Rivera must be a Noah Syndergaard whisperer as Noah look like Nosh of 2016 cy young like. He was throwing high fastballs up in the zone and up in the count he was throwing pitches in the dirt up 0-2 as well instead of looking to hit the corners up 0-2 and paying for it. Yes I know that Noah had an excellent streak going into the Cubs series where he got creamed but he looked different today. Speaking of looking different the Mets offense looked so much better with Nimmo and Davis in there instead of Lagares being an out machine. Nimmo is a pain in the ass seeing so many pitches and fouling them off and taking pitches and drawing walks. Nimmo also had a double and had another hot shot that was caught he’s a difference maker. Davis had a big game after struggling some and has been a revelation. Good to see McNeil square one up and hope it gets him going. The amazing unit of homers Bashlor gives up is obscene, but I had no issue with him being used to pitch a second inning.
All in all a good win and a couple happy returns to the lineup the Mets are so much better with Nimmo and Davis in there.
Kudos to Syndergaard for a tremendous bounce back performance. Kudos to the Met bats for jumping on Ross and taking advantage of the favorable pitching match up. The hole is still quite deep, but each win keeps the puncher’s chance alive.