Nationals Win 12-9 Slugfest Over Mets in Series Finale
The Washington Nationals bats came alive, as they won a 12-9 slugfest over the New York Mets in the series finale on Sunday.
The Washington Nationals capped off their three-game series with the New York Mets Sunday with Max Scherzer and Zack Wheeler squaring off in the finale.
The Nationals got after Wheeler early in the top of the second when Scherzer helped himself out by ripping an RBI single to left, giving Washington an early 1-0 lead. Victor Robles followed with an RBI single of his own to right, making it 2-0.
The Nats offense was not done there . Adam Eaton laced an RBI ground-rule double to deep left, followed by a sacrifice fly by Howie Kendrick, making it 5-0 Nationals.
The Mets answered back in the bottom of the second as Ex-National Wilson Ramos ripped an RBI single to left, putting the Mets on the board at 5-1.
Both pitchers settled down after rough starts keeping the game locked at 5-1 until the top of the fifth when Washington threatened again. Zack Wheeler completely lost his command, walking four batters and issuing a free pass to Kurt Suzuki with the bases loaded, giving the Nationals a 6-1 lead. Relief pitcher Tim Peterson struggled with his command as well, throwing a wild pitch immediately after coming in scoring Anthony Rendon making it 7-1.
Washington continued to pour in on in the top of the sixth. Peterson could not find the zone just like Wheeler and issued a free pass to Ryan Zimmerman with the bases loaded making it 8-1. Suzuki followed with an RBI single to left, scoring Rendon and making it 9-1.
The offensive onslaught was not done yet, as in the top of the seventh Anthony Rendon launched a three-run homer to left, his fourth of the year, blowing the game even more open at 12-1.
The Mets fought back in the bottom of the seventh a Brandon Nimmo RBI dobule forced Max Scherzer out of the game at 12-2. Reliever Matt Grace struggled replacing Scherzer, giving up four more runs making it a 12-6 game.
In the bottom of the eighth, Nationals reliever Trevor Rosenthal once again was unable to record an out, forcing Wander Suero to come in with runners on first and third and no one out. Suero did a great job and was able to get out of the jam unscathed keeping it a 12-6 game.
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Joe Ross, after being called up late last night, was tasked with locking things down in the ninth. Things did not go well for Ross, as after two walks Michael Conforto went deep to right for a three-run homer, making it a 12-9 game and forcing the Nationals to bring Sean Doolittle into the game. Thankfully, Doolittle was able to retire the final two batters, giving Washington the 12-9 win.
Next Game: The Nationals return to action tomorrow night as they begin a three-game series with the Philidelphia Phillies at 7:05 E.T.