The Mets had a chance to be aggressive on the bases in the fourth inning but didn’t push their luck and didn’t score. They were aggressive in the sixth inning, which resulted in a four-run frame and eventually a 6-2 win over the Nationals Wednesday night. The Mets are now a half game behind the Padres for the final Wild Card spot, as ChrisF would want you to know.
It was a matchup of two scuffling pitchers and you’d figure the runs would be plentiful. But that’s not the way the game played out in the early going. Brandon Nimmo gave the Mets a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the first. But that was all of the early scoring for the home team.
After the Nationals took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning – due in part to Luis Severino’s failure to back up home – the Mets put two runners on in the bottom of the inning before Jose Iglesias singled to right. Being leery of the right fielder’s arm, third base coach Mike Sarbaugh held the runner at third base. While that happened, the throw home got by the catcher but the Nationals’ starter showed Severino how to back up a play so no runner could advance. The next batter struck out and the Mets failed to score.
In the sixth inning, J.D. Martinez and Pete Alonso hit back-to-back singles. Alonso’s hit was to right field but Martinez decided to challenge the outfielder. It was a strong throw but off target and Martinez advanced to third with Alonso taking second on the throw. Vientos followed with an RBI double, Iglesias had a two-run hit and Bader had a fielder’s choice that drove in a run.
Iglesias figured into the final run, as he hit a bloop double with two outs in the eighth inning and scored on Tyrone Taylor’s RBI triple. The home team finished with 12 H and 6 R. In six games against the Nats here in July, the offense has totaled 52 H and 34 R. And they were shut out with one hit in one of those outings.
The Mets got 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, with Jose Butto getting the final four outs for his first MLB save.
Gut Reaction: Severino pitch a good game but had only 92 pitches and could have continued. Mendoza trusted his bullpen again and Diekman and Young combined for one inning of shutout ball. Today it worked out.
Iglesias has earned more playing time at second base.
Since Marte went down, right field has become at hole. Taylor has shown some life this week. though. Give him more playing time to see if he is heating up. What do Mendoza have to lose because McNeil, Stewart and Gamel aren’t hitting.
Let’s go for the sweep!
In his first article back from paternity leave, Tim Britton in The Athletic referred to the psychology of a Front Office adding to a team during the season and how it gives confidence and a sense of support to the team. Sounds great, so why is Stearns still saying “we’ll see”?
Brandon Nimmo is making me feel badly about doubting his contract. After the game Daniel Murphy in the postgame show said that Nimmo is on a good roll right now and swinging harder because of that and balls are going further. Makes sense to me.
I was stunned that Mendoza let Butto finish the game. Think that he can change his ways on burning through pitchers?
One thing that may not be a big deal, but only if is corrected, is how often the Mets players don’t have their head in the game. On back to back plays, Luis Severino didn’t backup the play and the first time it cost him a run and cost Taylor an error; the second time it didn’t cost anything. Ron Darling would not allow him to get away with it, and good for Darling because he wants to do his job well – I wish more people did – and called out Severino mercilessly. When you are wanting to be a winning team, how much do you as a decision maker keep in your mind when players’ heads aren’t working well? Didn’t Hernandez say 90% of the game is between the ears?
But, what wasn’t mentioned was in the first inning, with Alonso on first and two outs, Vientos pops up to the second baseman. Alonso retreats to the first base bag as the second baseman camps under the pop up. In the first inning? In the first inning your head isn’t in the game yet?
I too saw that play by Alonso who clearly didn’t know there was two outs. And backing up is fundamental baseball, like covering at first. Just a couple of 0-fers and a whole lot of contributors at the plate. Nimmo again. Vientos, Taylor and Iggy comes through again. I think they are using him correctly because if he could have been this good on a larger scale he wouldn’t have been moved around so much. No issue pulling Severino, who did a nice job in 6 plus, and thrilled to see Diekman K two and swat down the Gnats. Can Butto become the new 8th inning reliever? Maton-Butto-Diaz to close out games. Don’t know who would pitch the 6th ♂️
Who is this Jose Butto AAAA character? Nimmo and Lindor continuing to show they truly are all stars…Lindor with the glove on a night his bat was quiet. Vientos continues to impress. Can the Mets finish H1 with 3 more wins and 4 more 7 inning games from the starters?