WASHINGTON — The Mets are again on a successful observe.
There have been no theatrics and no blown calls Saturday at Nationals Park. There was loads of rain within the afternoon, which delayed the second recreation of a four-game sequence twice. As soon as the skies cleared, Clay Holmes resumed his shutout efficiency and Francisco Alvarez hit his first house run of the season to guide the Mets to a 2-0 win over the Washington Nationals.
It was a check for Holmes, who was transformed to a starter this season after spending the final six seasons pitching out of the bullpen. With on and off rain coming within the space, the Nationals delayed the sport for 26 minutes earlier than it even began, and have been pressured to delay it once more after a sudden downpour within the backside of the primary. Holmes threw 13 pitches to 2 hitters earlier than being pressured to come back off the mound for a 46-minute delay.
When he got here again out, he was dominant, throwing 5 scoreless innings. Holmes shortly retired Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell to strand the runner he allowed earlier than the delay. After giving up a leadoff single within the second, he obtained a double play.
The Nats is perhaps in the course of a rebuild, however their lineup is aggressive early in counts and quick on the basepaths. The participant growth employees has the hitters on the identical web page with their strategy, and budding younger stars like James Wooden and Dylan Crews have energy and velocity.
However towards Holmes’s sinker, they may do little besides hit the ball excessive. Holmes (3-1) recorded 10 of his 15 outs on the bottom, limiting the Nationals to 4 hits over 5 innings, and placing out two. It was an environment friendly outing with Holmes utilizing solely 70 to get by means of 5. If it hadn’t been for the rain delay, the Mets seemingly would have given Holmes two extra innings.
Within the prime of the second, Alvarez put the Mets forward 2-0, with a two-run homer off right-hander Brad Lord, taking an 0-1 slider and sending it into the house bullpen past proper discipline. Lord was additionally restricted after the delay, going solely 4 innings and giving up 5 hits whereas placing out three within the loss (0-3).
The Washington bullpen was simply nearly as good because the New York ‘pen. Proper-hander Eduardo Salazar struck out the facet within the prime of the sixth in aid of Lord, and Danny Younger gave up a success to leadoff hitter C.J. Abrams within the backside of the inning earlier than placing out the subsequent three. Proper-hander Reed Garrett pitched a scoreless seventh to increase his streak to 11 2/3 innings with out an earned run.
Left-hander A.J. Minter obtained Abrams on the lookout for the primary out within the eighth, however then left the sport with triceps tightness after going 3-1 on Wooden. Proper-hander Max Kranick got here in, changing an injured pitcher for the second time in as many appearances, and held the two-run lead.
Edwin Diaz posted the save (seven), pitching round a one-out stroll.
Friday night time was eventful, however the Mets didn’t get down after a blown name, a comeback, and in the end a loss, with the Nats (12-15) strolling off. They picked proper again up, successful for the eighth time in 9 video games to stay atop the standings (19-8).
