As mentioned in a previous game recap, the Nationals offense seems to be good for one impressive performance a series. That performance came on Monday in the series against the Mets as the Nationals were fighting for a split of the 4 game set.
Things got started early for the Nationals. Actually very early, as early as possible, as Lane Thomas doubled on the first pitch of the game for the Nationals' offense. He later scored on a Joey Meneses double to give the Nats the early lead. Fast forward to the third inning, after back-to-back singles by Thomas and Luis Garcia, Meneses doubled again to score Thomas and Garcia scored one batter later on a sacrifice fly from Keibert Ruiz.
The Nats would go on to score 2 more in the 4th, another in the 5th, 2 more in the 6th, and one more in each of the 7th and 8th innings. They scored in every inning on offense except the 2nd inning. Thanks to a strong start by Patrick Corbin, the Nationals were able to clinch the series split and win Monday's contest by a score of 10 to 3.
Continuing his hot streak, CJ Abrams yet again had himself a day on offense. He collected multiple hits again and scored twice with a stolen base, and also tallied his 4th homerun of the year and team leading(!!!) 22nd RBI.
CJ Abrams - Washington Nationals (4) pic.twitter.com/3vijEzPPwQ
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) May 15, 2023
Abrams has found his swing and the results show. Over his last 15 days he is hitting .326 with an .814 OPS. Even over his last 30 days, he is still hitting a very respectable .286 with a .775 OPS. He needs to walk more and refine his defense, but he is only 22 years old after all and needs more seasoning in general. But fans have to like what they're seeing out of the young shortstop recently.
Fans can also enjoy the Nationals performance to close the Mets series. They had 15 hits and SEVEN of them were for extra bases - unheard of in this day in age of Nationals baseball! They also went 5 for 12 with runners in scoring position, which obviously was the key force in the offensive output. Lane Thomas had 2 doubles and Joey Meneses had 3 of his own.
And as previously mentioned, Patrick Corbin delivered another quality start in the victory. Corbin went 6 innings allowing 2 runs on 8 hits with a walk and a strikeout. There is still some hard contact against Corbin, but he is doing well to limit the damage and keeping the ball down in the zone, which prevents opposing teams from elevating the ball against him as much. The Nationals finally dialed up a clutch back-pick play at first base to get Corbin out of a bases loaded jam in the 2nd.
💪#NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/0Zoa9J7YiA
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 15, 2023
The Nationals will look to keep the momentum going as they travel down to Miami to take on the Marlins for the first time this season. The Nationals will send Josiah Gray (3-5, 2.96 ERA) to the mound in game one as he faces off against former Nat Jesus Luzardo (3-2, 3.38 ERA) as the Nationals face another lefty. Game start is at 6:40p ET.