NEW YORK – After going 6-3 on their most recent road trip, the Mets returned home to Citi Field on Friday night and continued their winning ways as they defeated the Nationals, 4-1.
In the early going, the Mets were having problems against left-hander Andrew Alvarez. The team collected just one hit in the first five innings, while Alvarez retired 15 of the first 17 hitters he faced.
But this is a nine-inning game.
Down 1-0, the Mets were able to get to Alvarez in the sixth inning, and it started with Francisco Lindor, who swung at a 2-1 pitch and hit the ball over the left-field wall to tie the score at 1. With the blast, Lindor made up for the error he committed in the top of the third that helped Washington score the first run of the game.
Bo Bichette was the next hitter. He struck out but reached first base on a wild pitch. Interim manager Andy Green loved the fact that Bichette kept his head up as opposed to trudging to the dugout.
Right-hander Jake Bird entered the game for Washington. After Luis Robert Jr. singled to put runners on first and third, Carson Benge singled to right, scoring Bichette and giving New York the one-run lead.
“The Lindor homer was huge. It brought us to life. I love the resilience there,” Green said. “There was a play he wanted to make on the field that wasn’t made. When that stuff happens, and you come back and deliver a blow offensively. That is huge for the team. It’s huge for morale.
“You also have to tip your cap to Bo. He struck out in a world where most guys in the game today would just take their helmet off, put their bat down, walk back to the dugout and get their glove. He busted it to first base and beat it out. That’s how the game changed.”
The Mets added to their lead an inning later by scoring two more runs. Jared Young highlighted the flurry with a solo homer, his eighth of the season.
Mets pitching was outstanding. It started with Robert Stock, who allowed an unearned run in 4 1/3 innings. After he left the game, Nate Lavender, Jonathan Pintaro, Daniel Duarte and Kodai Senga blanked Washington the rest of the way, with Senga getting the second save of his career.
It was Senga’s first save in front of the home crowd, and they dug his choice in entrance music: “Beat it” by Michael Jackson. Senga plans to keep the song as long as teammates like it.
“I just heard [the song] for the first time in a while, and it’s a great song,” Senga said through interpreter Hiro Fujiwara.
Senga needed 14 pitches to end the game. He was able to get two quick outs, but then allowed a single to Jacob Young and hit CJ Abrams with a pitch to put runners on first and second. Abimelec Ortiz followed and represented the tying run. On a 2-2 pitch, Ortiz struck out to end the game.
It looks like Senga doesn’t mind being a closer for the Mets, and being a starter is a thing of the past.
“It’s certainly easier to prepare [as a closer] knowing that I’m going in later in the game,” Senga said. “It’s easier to prepare, get ready and warm up, especially compared to the situation I was in previously.”