Washington Nationals: 2017 turning points for another title
By Ron Juckett
POUNDING THE METS
Finally, Ron Juckett goes back to the first Nats/Mets series where Max Scherzer and Daniel Murphy gave New York a jolt on Sunday Night Baseball:
Most preseason predictions called Washington and New York equals. If memory serves, FanGraphs had the spread between the two at one game. When Blake Treinen lost his new closer’s job, there was a sense the Mets could top the Nats for real.
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The first series between these two rivals took place the weekend April 21 in Queens. Washington swept the Atlanta Braves in their first series at SunTrust Park coming in. You had a playoff atmosphere from the fans at Citi Field and the teams.
Friday, Jeurys Familia walked Trea Turner with the bases loaded in the 11th to lose 4-3. Saturday, Eaton and Turner hit back-to-back doubles in the fifth to power a 3-1 over Jacob deGrom.
Sunday, with Max Scherzer on the mound and a national audience on ESPN, it was Murphy who sent the Mets reeling on a sweep. His first-inning grand slam off Zack Wheeler gave Scherzer the support needed to finish off the Amazins.
Scherzer scattered three runs over eight. Koda Glover grabbed the save and Washington had their longest winning streak of the year at seven.
Although the Mets would take the first two in Washington the next weekend, the Nats planted a seed of doubt in New York’s mind. Murphy had beaten them again, continuing his dominance over his old club.
Next: Robles deserves postseason chance
Overall, Washington closed off the Mets 13-6 in their 2017 season series and proving those preseason predictions wrong. That weekend in Queens shifted the balance.