Mets Win A Wild One Against Washington To Take Series Finale

 

Brandon Nimmo points out to Francisco Lindor after scoring on his two-RBI double in the fourth inning. Photo by Jason Schott.

 

The Mets salvaged the final game of their three-game set with the Washington Nationals as they pulled out a wild 9-8 win on Thursday night at Citi Field. The Mets broke a four-game losing streak as they improved to 15-11 on the season and they will welcome the Atlanta Braves for a four-game set starting Friday night.

Joey Lucchesi was making his second start for the Mets in this one, and he ran into trouble early. He walked Alex Call to open the game, and then after he notched two outs, he gave up a single to Keibert Ruiz and walked Lane Thomas to load the bases. Stone Garrett drove one to center field that Brandon Nimmo caught about a foot in front of the fence. Lucchesi threw 26 pitches in the first inning, 13 strikes and 13 balls as he battled through it.

Joey Lucchesi firing one to Joey Meneses in the first inning. Photo by Jason Schott.

After Lucchesi retired the Nats in order in the second, with two of the three outs coming on tappers hit back to him, the Mets rallied against old friend Trevor Williams, who got the start for Washington.

Jeff McNeil and Daniel Vogelbach singled before Mark Canha hit a sacrifice fly to bring in McNeil and make it 1-0 Mets.

Washington tied it in the top of the third when Call hit a leadoff homer, but the Mets got the lead right back in the fourth as Brett Baty singled and Francisco Lindor got a two-run single give them a 4-1 edge.

Williams lasted five innings, and he allowed four runs (all earned) on nine hits and two walks, with four strikeouts.

In the sixth, with Lucchesi still on for the Mets, he allowed singled to Joey Meneses and Thomas, while retiring Ruiz in between them, before he exited.

Tommy Hunter entered in the sixth with two runners on and one out, and he allowed a single to Garrett to load the bases before Michael Chavis got an RBI single. With the bases still loaded, Victor Robles bounced one to third base, and Baty stepped on the base for the second out of the frame, but Robles beat it out at first to avoid the double play. That allowed Thomas to come in and cut the Mets' lead to 4-3. CJ Abrams struck out to end the frame.

Since Lucchesi was responsible for the two runners who scored, his final line was: 5 1/3 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts.

Erasmo Ramirez entered for Washington in the bottom of the sixth, and the Mets rallied.  Brandon Nimmo led off with a single, then with one out, Lindor laced a double to bring him in all the way from first base. Pete Alonso followed with a single to bring in Lindor, and a Vogelbach single brought in Alonso to open up a 7-3 lead for the Mets.

Hunter stayed on for the Mets, and retired the Nats in order in the seventh, and came out for the eighth, which he began with hit-by-pitches of Ruiz and Thomas. Garrett then hit one to Lindor, who made an error, so everyone was safe.

The Nationals suddenly had the bases loaded with nobody out, and the Mets turned to lefty Brooks Raley. 

Luis Garcia hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in Ruiz, and then inexplicably, Robles was hit by a pitch - the third HBP in the inning. The bases were loaded again, and Abrams blasted a grand slam into the bullpen in right field, and shockingly, the Nationals were up, 8-7.

Washington turned to Mason Thompson, and Marte greeted him with a single and a stolen base, his eighth of the season. After Lindor lined out to center, Alonso singled home Marte to tie the game at 8. McNeil was up next, and he blasted a triple to right field to bring in Alonso and make it 9-8 Mets.

David Robertson came on to close it out, and he earned the save by retiring the Nats in order, while striking out two. Robertson, who shares closing duties with Adam Ottavino, notched his fifth save of the season, and he has 14 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings.