Mets’ Undefeated Season Continues, as They Again Beat the Nats in a Wild One

By Nicholas Stix

It was Noah Syndergaard vs. Stephen Strasburg, in D.C. Pitchers’ duel, right? Not exactly. Both hurlers appeared to have great stuff early on, but something was amiss.

Strasburg had great stuff, and was striking out a lot of Mets’ hitters, but in-between, he was getting rocked. After one inning, the score was 3-1, Mets. After two, it was 4-1.

In the fourth inning, the Nats tied the game, 4-4. Syndergaard and Strasburg both left the game after six innings, with it still tied, 4-4.

New Mets acquisition Justin Wilson had a one-two-three seventh, throwing 95-96 mph fastballs.

In the eighth, the Mets went ahead, 7-4, and in the ninth, they busted it open, 11-4. Or so it seemed.

In the ninth, Amed Rosario bobbled a sure double play ball, and Robbie Cano dropped Rosario’s toss. Instead of two outs, and no one on, there were men on first and second, and no one out. Seth Lugo, who had gotten the third out in the previous inning with one pitch (after Jeurys Familia faltered), threw 40 more in the ninth, without being able to seal the deal. Finally, with the score 11-8, new, string bean closer Edwin Diaz got the final out on a one-pitch fly out.

The Mets had clutch hitting, but defensive meltdowns.

It was ugly, but it was a win. And an ugly win leaves a real sweet aftertaste.