Kyle Schwarber clubbed three home runs to lead the Nationals to a 5-2 win over the Mets Sunday afternoon in Washington.
Taijuan Walker didn’t have his best stuff and the first three hitters for the Nats all hit rockets. Schwarber led off with a homer, the next batter hit one two steps deep on the warning track and the third batter ripped a double. But Walker was able to find his footing and pitched into the seventh inning, giving the Mets a chance.
Walker left with the Mets trailing, 3-2. But Jeury Familia came on and gave up Schwarber’s third homer of the game. Remember when all the hits off Familia were bleeders? Good times, good times. Familia has now given up 8 ER in his last 11.2 IP.
The Mets managed just four hits, two of them solo homers with one off the bat of Kevin Pillar and the other by Pete Alonso.
Next up for the Mets is a doubleheader against the Braves. Hopefully a return to Citi Field will help revive the club, which also should get a boost with the expected return of Jeff McNeil.
Gut Reaction: Disappointing that the Mets didn’t at least split the series to a weaker division rival. The Mets can maintain their lead with spits with the with Braves and Phillies in the next week (4 games apiece) .Time is on your side when you have lead in the standings. I hope the offense wakes up for this homestead.
It’s a little embarrassing for a pitching coach for his staff to give up five homers in two games to the same guy. After two or certainly three dingers, you’d think to do something different… like maybe stop throwing fastballs over the plate!
Walker looked darned good again, despite struggling with his health… I think it’s time we called him a legit #2. If Stroman can stay steady, the Mets can still maintain the upper hand in the division, with the fore-mentioned split of all series.
But one has to wonder about Luis Rojas’s ability to generate offense. Granted, injuries cost them a lot this season, but those players were not exactly burning it up before they went down. McNeil, Conforto, and Nimmo need to contribute early in their returns or you can kiss the division lead goodbye by the All Star Break.