On a beautiful spring evening in New York, the Mets hosted the Nationals and the Nationals brought their hitting shoes early. After David Peterson got the first out of the game, he gave up a single, a walk to Juan Soto, hit Nelson Cruz and gave up a two run single to the opposite field by Josh Bell. Lane Thomas then followed with a sac fly and it was 3-0. It was a bit disappointing for Peterson to give up three runs before his team even hit, but more disappointment waited later on.
So, with the Mets down 3-0 and facing the Nationals hottest starting pitcher, Eric Fedde, the Mets needed to be aggressive, and they were. New Mets leadoff hitter Luis Guillorme led off with a single, Sterling Marte singled, Francisco Lindor singled home Guillorme and Pete Alonso walked. So, Jeff McNeil came to the plate with the bases loaded and a big hit would put Fedde on the ropes, but couldn’t get it done as McNeil grounded into a double play. The run scored, but it killed the inning.
In the second inning, the Mets started to overwhelm the Nationals with their talent level. After Guillorme made the first of several impressive defensive plays this game (backhanding a Keibert Ruiz grounder and starting what was originally called a DP but then overturned) to get the Mets further energized, they came out hitting in the second. Single by Mark Cahna leading off, double for Nick Plummer scoring Cahna, Tomas Nido got robbed by Victor Robles but Guillorme singled in Plummer. Next up was Marte and he hit a rocket into the seats in left field making it 6-3 Mets.
In the third inning, the Nats got a one out single by Josh Bell but he was erased as the next hitter Thomas lined out to Alonso and he caught it falling towards the base and he just tagged it with the glove for a double play. That got the Mets back to the plate and after a Cahna walk and a Nido single, Guillorme walked continuing his perfect night and bring Marte to the plate. Marte also stayed perfect at the plate getting his third hit on a ground single to left scoring two. Lindor followed with his third hit on a bullet to CF scoring Guillorme and making it 9-3. If you’re scoring at home, Guillorme, Marte, and Lindor through this third inning are 8-8 with a walk. That’s living well.
As the rules say the other team has to hit also after you make three outs in an inning, it just felt like it was an interruption of the Mets batting show. So, the Nationals went quickly in the fourth and the Mets were back to the plate. McNeil grounded out but Eduardo Escobar got a single to join the fun. Cahna singled again moving up Escobar and Nick Plummer hit a moonshot of a homerun the other way to left field making it 12-3 after four innings.
In the top of the fifth, David Peterson started losing the plate and giving up hits. Cesar Hernadez singled, Keibert Ruiz walked, Soto flied out to fairly deep right field. Yadiel Hernandez pinch hit for Cruz and struck out, but Bell had a two out single driving in Hernandez. Lane Thomas then walked loading the bases and Buck Showalter was too offended to allow Peterson to continue. So, one out short of qualifying for a win, Peterson exited up 12-4. Colin Holderman came in and got Maikel Franco to pop out and end the inning.
Marte walked to opened the fifth, but a line out, a flyout and a strike out by McNeil (who was the DH and was seen limping toward the latter part of the game) ended that inning quickly.
The top of the sixth represented the end of Holderman’s perfect ERA as Alcides Escobar tripled with one out to right center and Hernandez chased him home with a base hit. However, that just gave Guillorme opportunity to make a double play that made people’s eyes pop out. As Ruiz’ grounder up the middle headed passed the infield and toward the outfield, Guillorme took two steps, dove into the grass to field it, snapped to his knee quickly and a slick sidearmed underhand throw to Lindor was one out, the relay to Alonso made it two outs and Ruiz who was robbed and almost doubled up earlier but saved by video review, couldn’t be saved it this time.
The Nats didn’t really show a pulse again until the eighth inning when they got two on against Stephen Nogosek, but Victor Robles grounded into a DP and Escobar grounded out keeping the Nats off the board. In the bottom of the eighth, Alonso hit a solo HR to finalize the scoring.
Tomorrow it Patrick Corbin against Trevor Williams as Williams looks to continue with impressive walk year.
The only bad new, besides Peterson being less than effective, was the playing of McNeil. Considering that he missed 6 weeks last year with similar issues, I found it curious that the Mets would DH him and force him to play hurt.
Just sayin’, but this is the first time the old complaining McNeil surfaced in a long while. Muttering to himself, slamming his helmet, complaining on strike calls… and all while a perfectly heathy JD Davis sits out yet another game (even Dom).
As I have mention here before, JD actually hits RHers better than LHers this year, so why keep him out so long? And once the game got out of hand, playing McNeil became even more indefensible. McNeil even faced a lefty in the 8th inning, when most guys who hadn’t played would have loved a crack at the back of the Nats’ bullpen.
Just a misread by Buck. I hope he hasn’t started McNeil on a little tumble. I want somebody reading this to remember this little discomfort if McNeil is, a month from now, fighting to stay above .280…
My thoughts exactly abt McNeil
Other notes:
1. Guillorme is doing what I thought he always had the potential to do… hit for average. His quality concentration at the plate has finally found the rhythm it needs to bear fruit. I don’t appreciate him still being called a bench player… what’s a guy gotta do to at least achieve platoon status?
2. Lindor looks truly comfortable at the plate for the first time since he arrived. A huge difference. He is really seeing the ball, relaxed, hitting with two strikes… no problem.
3. Marte settling in… let’s hope it is not just a hot streak, but the beginning of a great season for him.
4. All Mark Canha does is hit line drives… several more tonight.
5. Tricky Nick (Plummer)? Maybe the least appropriate nickname ever… he’s not tricky at all… he’s a bruiser. reminds me of Swoboda, who was like 2-5 in his first week, 2 dingers…something like the.
Let’s bear down on Patrick Corbin tomorrow… nobody wants to face this lineup right now. Mets are must see TV…
Ho hum. 4 down 2 to go.
This June is going to rewrite the narrative.
Gut Reaction: The the Mets swatted the Nats and their best starter ( under their circumstances ). Keep the pedal to the floor because it’s going to be difficult June.
McNeil should not be playing. Guillorme is a defensive Wiz and he is batting unconsciously. Keep playing him. Plumber is better than Billy McKinney.
I felt sorry for Peterson but all he had to do with trust is fielders to get the last out. It was a good move by Buck. BTW, the second tier relievers only gave up 1 run. Good Job. BoomBoom prophecy is still alive! LGM
It may be time to discard the “tier” designations with regard to the bullpen.
I mean, where is Ottavino and Shreve after giving up huge HRs? Where is Trevor May when he returns? Is Lugo the old dependable Lugo or the shaky, erratic Lugo? I think bullpens are like houses on fire… go with whomever will get you out of the house.
Right now, Nogosek and Holderman are getting people out. Guess what?
They tie their shoes the same as the “established” guys. Reputation and salary does not get people out… spin on the baseball, movement, and location get people out, and those are fleeting qualities… go with whomever can get you out of the fire t-o-d-a-y.
Please define t-o-d-a-y.
Ottavino had nine consecutive appearances without giving up a run. So the tenth appearance is t-o-d-a-y?
Holerman had six consecutive appearances without giving up a run so his seventh appearance is t-o-d -a -y?
Please define t-o-d-a-y. Or maybe look up second guess.
Maybe it is time to discard the tier designations and purchase a Ouija board.
Too bad the first “DP” by Ruiz got overturned; that was a splash of flash and plenty of hot dogging. The second one was pure reaction and a play very few second basemen will make. The third one where he ran in to field a play was a good play, but not in the same sentence as the other two.
With Guillorme, Lindor, and Escobar the infield defense is the fence behind the infield dirt Alderson quipped about once upon a time.
Problem is, with a lefty today, who sits? Plummer? Guillorme? McNeil to rest up?