Mets Series Review; Doing it in DC
The New York Mets returned to Washington, where they began the season and continued to be the only team in MLB to have not lost a series in 2022. The Mets have yet to have a long winning streak and only have lost two consecutive games once, as they have won consistently, though not overwhelming. They have not swept a series but have continued to play consistent smart baseball to stay at a two-third pace, leaving with a record of 22-11 as they hold a six-and-a-half-game lead in the National League East.
The series began on Tuesday, with Carlos Carrasco making the start for the Mets while Patrick Corbin started for the Nationals. The Mets had flashbacks to 2021 for most of the game as they had Corbin on the ropes through most of the game but failed to get the big hit. The Nationals opened the scoring in the fourth inning but could have had more as Yadiel Hernandez was thrown out at home on a perfect relay from Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil to end the inning after a double by Josh Bell. After five innings, Washington would have a 5-0 lead as Riley Adams hit a home run in the fifth.
The Mets would load the bases against Carl Edwards Jr. and finally broke through on a double by McNeil to tie the game. The Mets would take the lead as Starling Marte scored on a sac-fly by James McCann. The Mets could not score against Patrick Corbin, but they worked up the pitch count forcing the Nats to go to the bullpen in the sixth inning.
Carlos Carrasco would pitch into the seventh inning, giving the Mets length and leaving with a 3-2 lead. After three outs from Drew Smith, Joely Rodriguez came in the game to face Juan Soto with two outs in the eighth. He needed just one pitch as Soto popped up in foul territory to Eduardo Escobar. The Mets added a run in the ninth as Edwin Diaz earned his seventh save, with the Mets recording a 4-2 win.
Tylor Megill took the mound on Wednesday, looking to rebound from his first loss of the season. Before he threw his first pitch, Megill was staked to a 3-0 lead, as Brandon Nimmo led off with a double and scored on an error, while Pete Alonso hit a two-run bomb. However, it was clear that Megill did not have his best stuff as the Nationals tattooed him, with Juan Soto hitting a two-run bomb to answer Alonso's blast. Washington would bat around in the first inning, scoring five runs to take the lead as Tylor Megill threw 38 pitches.
The Mets had Aaron Sanchez on the ropes in the first inning, but the bats went silent for the remainder of the game, as Sanchez pitched into the sixth inning and allowed three runs on six hits. Tylor Megill was not as fortunate as Nelson Cruz hit a three-run blast in the second, chasing the Mets' starter out of the game. The Nationals would win the game 8-3, but the Mets got excellent work from Trevor Williams and Stephen Nogosek, who combined allowed two hits while pitching six and two-thirds innings, saving the Mets' bullpen for another day.
Again the Mets found themselves in a rubber game; they had won their previous five rubber games, as they looked to continue their success in winning series with Taijuan Walker getting the start. Joan Adon started for the Nationals and created his own trouble as he walked three batters in the first inning to load the bases. Mark Canha took advantage and had a two-out single to give the Mets the early lead. The Mets added a third run as Tomas Nido singled home Canha in the fourth.
Taijuan Walker struggled with a back issue but gutted it out, pitching to contact all afternoon. When the Mets were at-bat, he would put on a wrap in the dugout as he looked for his first win of the season. Walker showed his grit in the fourth inning as he tagged out Juan Soto at third after a rundown. The collision was hard as Walker trying to throw Josh Bell out at second, threw the ball away, but Starling Marte was in the right spot and tossed the ball to third as the Nationals comically ran themselves out of an inning, with clueless third base coach Gary DiScarcina trying to get Bell to slide into Soto who was still lying at third base after being tagged out. Taijuan Walker would pitch seven innings, allowing three hits with one strikeout.
Mark Canha, who had been struggling, was the star of the game for the Mets with three hits, two runs, and three RBI, as he hit a home run in the ninth to give the Mets a 4-0 lead. Seth Lugo pitched a perfect eighth with two strikeouts. Edwin Diaz struck out the first two batters in the ninth before Juan Soto ended the Mets' attempt at a seventh shutout with a home run. It was a mere bump in the road as Josh Bell popped up, and the Mets won the game 4-1.