Mets 5 Nationals 2 (Citi Field, Flushing, NY)
Mets record: 50-55
Mets streak: Won 1
WP – Justin Verlander (6-5)
LP – Trevor Williams (5-6)
SV – Brooks Raley (3)
Seat on the Korner
We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.
Lindor was 3-for-4 with a home run, walk, RBI and two runs scored. His leadoff double started a three-run rally in the 3rd inning. And his 21st home run, a solo shot to deep right, put the Mets up 5-1 in the 4th inning. Lindor also made a pair of defensive gems at short in the 5th inning for an all-around strong day.
Need to Know
* On the day Max Scherzer was officially traded to the Texas Rangers for highly regarded infield prospect Luisangel Acuna, the Mets defeated the Nationals to take 3-of-4 in this weekend series.
* Acuna, who likely will be ranked the Mets No. 1 prospect, was assigned to double-A Binghamton.
* Mets GM Billy Eppler called the Scherzer trade “a strategic decision” and stated “it’s not a rebuild, it’s not a fire sale, it’s not a liquidation.”
* Justin Verlander became the 47th pitcher in MLB history to win 250 games.
* Pete Alonso had an RBI single in the 1st inning and a SAC Fly in the 3rd. He drove in seven runs in the series and has 75 RBI on the season, tied for third in the National League.
* Jeff McNeil had an RBI triple at the plate and an outstanding running catch by the wall defensively in right field.
* Danny Mendick started at second base and had the first two-hit game of his Mets tenure.
* Nationals shortstop C.J. Abrams had two hits and stole three bases in the loss.
Turning Point
The Mets scored three runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning to stake Verlander to a 4-1 lead. The inning featured an RBI triple into the right field corner by McNeil and a pair of SAC Flys by Alonso and Omar Narvaez. Those productive outs recalled some of the things the Mets did so well in 2022 but have failed to do most of this season.
3 Keys
Verlander is a pro’s pro. With his name swirling in trade rumors and on the day his co-ace Scherzer was traded to the Rangers, Verlander didn’t allow potential distractions to mar his start against the Nationals. Though touched for a run in the 1st inning, Verlander allowed just one run and five hits in 5.1 innings to pick up his third straight win and fourth in his past five decisions. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner lowered his ERA to 3.15 and, unlike Scherzer, has been able to find his groove, pitching consistently from start to start.
David Peterson looked good again in relief of Verlander. The left-hander allowed an unearned run and struck out two in two innings. He induced a pair of double-play ground balls. And the only run he surrendered was set up by Brandon Nimmo’s two-base fielding error on a fly to center. Since being recalled from triple-A Syracuse two weeks ago, Peterson has appeared in six games out of the bullpen, allowing two earned runs in eight innings. The question is, will Peterson move back into the starting rotation following the trade of Scherzer?
The 2023 MLB Trade Deadline arrives Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET. The Mets are off Monday, so this was their last game before the deadline. How different will the roster look by then? Has Verlander thrown his last pitch for the Mets (not likely)? Will Tommy Pham, Mark Canha and/or Narvaez be traded (more likely)? Will there be a trade made to help the Mets at the big-league level this season and next (50-50)? Everything’s on the table after New York dealt Scherzer and David Robertson already.
Comentários