9/9/15

September 9th 2015 -- Mets 5, Nationals 3

Wednesday night, it happened again. Trailing 2-1 in the top of the 8th inning, the Mets got a pinch hit homer by Kelly Johnson to tie it, and then a 2 run homer by  Yoenis Cespedes to put the Mets ahead, the Mets come from behind again and sweep the Nationals in D.C. with a 5-3 win. The game started as a pitcher’s duel between Jacob deGrom and Stephen Strasburg. Both Strasburg and deGrom where on their games in this one. In the bottom of the 1st the Nats took a 1-0 lead when Bryce Harper got his first hit of the series and first homer against the Mets this year, his 35th on the season.  The Mets tied the game in the top of the 2nd when Travis d’Arnaud crashed a solo homer, his 11th on the year and it was 1-1.  The Nats took the lead  back in the bottom of the 4th when Harper doubled and advanced to third on a ground out by Antony Rendon. Clint Robinson then singled through a drawn in infield to bring home Harper and give the Nats the lead.  In the 8th inning, Terry Collins pressed the right button again, pinch hitting Kelly Johnson for Wilmer Flores, who had gone 0-2 against Strasburg and Johnson clubbed a long home run into the 2nd deck in right to tie the game at 2, for Johnson his 5th as a Met and 14th on the year. Curtis Granderson then singled. Strasburg was relieved by Drew Storen and then Cespedes clubbed a 2 run homer, his 14th as a Met and 32nd on the year to give the Mets a 4-2 lead. deGrom went 7 innings allowing just 5 hits 2 runs (both earned) walking 2 and striking out 9 in notching the win, he’s now 13-7. Tyler Clippard pitched the 8th and yielded Harper’s 2nd solo shot of the night, his 36th on the year.  In the bottom of the 8th, Lucas Duda doubled, was pinch run for by Eric Young Jr. He advanced to 3rd on a grounder by d’Arnaud and scored on a RBI single by Michael Conforto making it 5-3.  Jeurys Familia pitched the 9th for his 39th save. Strasburg was the hard luck loser going 7 1/3 innings allowing just 4 hits,  3 runs (earned) walking 1 and striking out 13. He falls to 8-7.  Cespedes is in rarified air, with 6 homers in his past 7 games. He has 14 homers and 36 RBI in 36 games since the trade.  d’Arnaud went 2 for 4 with the homer as the Mets now have built a 7 game lead over the Nationals. With the win the Mets stand at 78-61 on the year, a season high 17 games over .500, they improve to 33-37 on the road. Thursday night the Mets travel south to Atlanta for a four game set.  Thursday night the reigning NL Player of the week Bartolo Colon (13-11 4.18) goes for the Mets, Shelby Miller (5-13 2.81) goes for Atlanta. 

5 comments:

Michael S. said...

Good grief...

Michael S. said...

Since Conforto was called up (the beginning of the turn) this team is 29-13, a .690 winning percentage. Over the course of a full season that's about 110-111 wins.

It may be pointless to speculate but I can't help but think about what this group could do over a full season. It's not over but there's good reason for confidence.

Mack Ade said...

Michael -

I'm the last person that wants to jinx this, but it really doesn't matter how many games the Mets win or lose from this point on.

There's no way that Washington is going to come back from this devastating sweep.

Michael S. said...

I feel the same....like even a whisper of it could shatter it. But their hearts had to be cut out after this.

Anonymous said...

Great move using Johnson to PH to Flores. That's what happens when you have a bench, and use it. Taking Strasburg deep in the 8th inning? Wow.

I don't think little Danny Muno was ever going to do that.

James Preller