The Mets started the last home stand of the (regular) season against the Washington Nationals. The pitching stepped up and put one of the worst losses of the season, losing in Philadelphia in heartbreaking, walk-off fashion, in the rearview. In the first game, the Mets got right back on the horse as Starling Marte, who has been in and out of the lineup this season due to injuries and a logjam of outfielders, came through with a tenth inning walk-off to win the first game for the Mets and get them back in the win column. The pitching was top notch against Washington, giving up only two runs across the three games.
One of the best moves by GM David Stearns this season was the signing of Jose Iglesias. A journeyman infielder who failed to make a major league roster in 2023, Iglesias has been a breath of fresh air for the Mets. He is with his eighth major league ball club, and brings a great and positive veteran presence to the game each day. Not only has he performed well on the field this season, where he is batting .329, but Iglesias is a singer that goes by Candelita. His OMG single has done well, and he was able to perform it live after a Mets game at Citi Field, as well as at the All-Star Game festivities this year. Iglesias continues to be a testament to the benefits of hard work and a positive attitude, and embodies the culture of the 2024 Mets.
Another solid moves the Mets made, last season, was the trade of Max Scherzer to the Rangers. They acquired top prospect Luisangel Acuña. While Acuña was a rumored September 1 call-up for this year since he was on the 40-man roster already, the Mets chose to let him stay at AAA Syracuse to play everyday. When Francisco Lindor went down with a back injury, though only expecting to cost him a few days, the team called up Acuña. He has not disappointed, showing a penchant for big hits, including his first two home runs in the Washington series, combined with solid fielding.
The Mets started the last homestand of the season by honoring another star of the 2024 team that will now have a monument in Citi Field. Grimace threw out the first pitch before the Mets game on June 12th. Starting with that game, the Mets won seven in a row. Since that game, their record has been 54-32. To commemorate his introduction to the Mets on 6-12, there is now a purple seat in Section 302, row 6, seat 12.
Here is the rundown of the series against the Nationals:
Game 1: Mets 2, Nationals 1
The Mets quickly put the prior game’s devastating walk-off loss by the score of 2-1 in the rearview. They did this by winning in dramatic walk-off fashion by the score of 2-1, in 10 innings. Marte was the hero, in support of another masterpiece on the mound by Sean Manaea.
Filling in for MVP candidate Lindor, who is only expected to miss a few more days with his lingering back issue, Iglesias had two hits in four at-bats including an RBI. His infield single in the eighth inning scored Tyrone Taylor with the tying run. Harrison Bader scored the winning run on Marte’s heroic hit in the 10th.
Manaea and the bullpen all did their job in this game. Manaea went seven innings, allowing one run on four hits with a walk and six strikeouts. His ERA on the season is now 3.26. One scoreless inning each was then contributed by Jose Butto, Edwin Diaz, and Reed Garrett. By pitching a scoreless 10th, Garrett picked up his eighth win of the season.
The only run scored by the Nationals came in the fourth inning, courtesy of a Jose Tena single. That scored Juan Yepez. The Nationals only produced one hit in 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Jake Irvin was solid on the mound, getting the start for the Nationals. He was charged with a run, which scored after he left the game. His final line was 7.1 innings, giving up the one run on four hits, with a walk and five strikeouts. Derek Law had the blown save, though he was not charged with the run in 0.2 inning. Jose Ferrer pitched a scoreless ninth inning before Jacob Barnes took the loss in the tenth.
Game 2: Mets 10, Nationals 1
After taking the first game of the series in dramatic fashion, there was no doubt in the second game. Behind breakout games from slugger Pete Alonso and Acuña, in support of another strong start by Tylor Megill, the Mets tied the game at one in the third inning before taking the lead in the same inning and not looking back.
Alonso had three hits in five at-bats, including his 33rd home run of the season. He drove in five runs in total to bring his RBI total to 86. Acuña also had three hits, in four at-bats including his first big league homer. He drove in two runs, including the tying run in the third to start the scoring for New York. Iglesias delivered a three-hit performance as well, scoring two runs while filling in for Lindor in the leadoff spot.
Megill continued his recent hot streak, going six innings. He allowed one run (not earned) on two hits and two walks with four strikeouts. The bullpen contributed a scoreless inning each from Adam Ottavino, Huascar Brazoban, and Alex Young.
James Wood knocked in the only run for Washington, on a fielder’s choice in the third to start off the scoring. The Nationals produced only four hits, with three from Dylan Crews, and the other from CJ Abrams.
Mitchell Parker had a tough start for the Nationals. He surrendered five runs on seven hits and two walks with a strikeout in 3.2 innings. Eduardo Salazar pitched the next 1.1 innings and was charged with a run, followed by Zach Brzykcy getting tagged for three runs in one inning. Tanner Rainey pitched a scoreless seventh, before Joe La Sorsa gave up a run in his one inning.
Game 3: Mets 10, Nationals 1
The Mets completed the sweep over Washington behind a nine-run fourth inning that broke a scoreless tie. Jose Quintana was strong in his start, continuing the string of great performances by Mets starting pitching.
Taylor drove in the game’s first run with an RBI double. The nine-run inning was capped by a three-run home run by Brandon Nimmo. Acuña homered for the second straight day, delivering two RBIs to continue the solid start to his MLB career. The other four runs were driven in by Mark Vientos and Marte, who had two RBIs each.
Quintana took his turn on the mound and continued the streak of great starts for Mets starting pitching. He went seven innings, shutting out the Nationals while allowing only two hits and two walks with four strikeouts. The win was Quintana’s 10th of the season, and he lowered his ERA to 3.74. Phil Maton came on for a scorless eighth, and Brazoban tossed a scoreless ninth to complete the shutout.
For the Nationals, Abrams had two of their three hits. The other was a double by Darren Baker in the eighth inning.
DJ Herz started for Washington, and went 3.1 innings. He allowed seven runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Barnes pitched the next 1.2 innings, giving up two runs. La Sousa threw two scoreless frames, and Brzykcy pitched the bottom of the eighth, where he gave up a run.
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