PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- This Nationals offense is starting to look like it’s ready to head north.
Of the first 23 batters the Nationals sent to the plate on Friday afternoon against the Mets at First Data Field, seven connected for home runs. Yan Gomes and Anthony Rendon each homered twice, while Ryan Zimmerman, Adam Eaton and Matt Adams added the other three en route to an 11-3 Nationals victory.
“That’s a good offensive day," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "They’re swinging the bats, I’ve said this before, but they’re really working hard … they’re looking good. They’re playing good, and the at-bats are good."
Eaton began the offensive onslaught with a leadoff home run against Mets starter Steven Matz, his second consecutive game with a homer. Adams added a run-scoring double later in the inning before Gomes notched his first of the afternoon, a three-run homer to left field.
“I don’t know if we’re going to do that every time, but we’re going to be fine offensively,” starter Jeremy Hellickson said. “…It’s one of the best offenses in the game. I’ll sit in the dugout as long as I need to that first inning.”
In the second inning, Rendon and Zimmerman went back-to-back. The Nats tagged Matz for eight runs on seven hits (four homers) in two innings.
The Nats kept the offense clicking even after Matz left. Gomes homered again in the third inning against right-hander Eric Hanhold. Rendon and Adams greeted new Mets closer Edwin Diaz with a pair of solo homers in the fourth.
The seven home runs surrendered by the Mets would match the most given up in any regular-season game in their franchise history.
“I think we’re clicking,” Adams said. “I think everybody is starting to get their timing where it needs to be, and we’re just putting together quality at-bats.”