Mets Sweep Nationals

July 12, 2024

Coming into the series at 44-45 the Mets needed to grab this series to keep the playoff race from slipping away and they did grab the series, sweeping the Nationals in 3 games.

In the first game of the series the Mets faced off against the Nationals right-handed pitcher Jake Irvin who allowed just 1 hit in 8 innings in his last start against the Mets, but this time around it was the complete opposite. Through the second inning, the Mets were already up 4-0, with a Lindor single that brought home McNeil and a Nimmo homered to bring home 3 runs. Both teams would go scoreless until the 6th inning when the Mets put up 2 runs thanks to a Fransisco Lindor 2-run homer to center. Fast forward to the top of the 8th inning, Adam Ottavino replaced Jose Quintana who pitched 7 innings, giving up 1 hit and 0 runs to bring his ERA over the last 5 starts down to a 0.89. When Ottavino entered the game he gave up 2 hits 2 runs and 1 homerun before getting pulled for Dedniel Núñez who pitched a clean innings. In the bottom of the 8th, the Mets added a run with a Jeff McNeil double. In the 9th inning, Reed Garrett came into pitch and gave up 3 runs, with 2 hits and 1 walk, and was pulled after not finishing the innings. After that, Edwin Diaz came into pitch the rest of the 9th and earned the save to lock up a 7-5 win.

For the second game of the series the Mets had Luis Severino pitching and the Nationals had Patrick Corbin on the mound. In the first inning, Nimmo started things early for the Mets, smacking a solo home run right to put the Mets up 1-0. Both Mets and Nationals would go scoreless until the 4th inning when the Nationals scored twice on a Tyron Taylor error. Down 2-1 in the 6th inning, Mark Vientos hit a 1-run double, Jose Iglesias hit 2 2-run single and Bader grounded into fielder's that brought home Iglesias on a throwing error to put the Mets up 5-2. Then in the 8th inning, the Mets extended their lead with a Tyrone Taylor triple that brought home Iglesias. With the help of the bullpen allowing 0 runs Jose Butto got the save and gave the Mets a 5-2 win.

In the third and final game of the series, the Mets had left on the mount for them and faced off against Mackenzie Gore of the Nationals. In the first 4 innings, both teams were even at 0 until the Mets broke the ice, scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the 5th. It started with a base-clearing double for Nimmo that brought home 3 runs, then back-to-back singles for Martinez and Alonso to both bring in 1 run to put the Mets up 5-0. It would be silent until the bottom of the 8th when Vientos singled to bring home JD Martinez and Bader hit a single to bring home Alonso. In the 9th inning, Adam Ottavino closed out the game and gave the Mets their first shutout this season, and the final MLB team to do so. 

Now at 47-45, the Mets hold a playoff spot for the first time since April 24th. The Mets now take on the 33-61 Colorado Rockies at Citi Field in a 3-game series before the All-Star break.