WASHINGTON – Riley Adams hit a go-ahead two-run single in the fifth inning, helping the Nationals defeat the Mets 9-3 on Thursday at Nationals Park and secure a win in the three-game series.
James Wood hit his 26th homer of the season, a three-run shot in the eighth, and five Washington relievers combined to allow two baserunners in 4 2/3 scoreless innings as the Nationals earned their first series victory at home since July 21-23 against Cincinnati.
Adams stepped in with the bases loaded to face reliever Tyler Rogers just after New York starter Sean Manaea (1-2) was lifted. He hit a sharp single to center to bring in two runs and make it 4-3.
Adams has received much of Washington’s playing time at catcher since a foul ball ricocheted off catcher Keibert Ruiz’s head on June 23 in San Diego. Ruiz has missed all but two of the Nationals’ 48 games since then, and Adams has found a rhythm with the additional playing time.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that the more time you’re out there, the easier it is for myself to feel like I’m getting my timing down and getting into a rhythm there,” Adams said. “I’m trying to take that day by day and get a little more comfortable every time.”
The 29-year-old Adams also ignited an eighth-inning rally, capping an eight-pitch plate appearance by lining Ryne Stanek’s fastball into left. Adams came around three batters later to make it 6-3 on rookie Brady House’s third hit of the day.
“It’s hard when you’re on the bench and you play every four days or five, it’s hard to get your timing,” interim manager Miguel Cairo said. “Right now, we have a good mix with [Drew] Millas and himself. He’s just getting great at-bats, and that’s what we’re looking for. That’s what we’re trying to preach.”
Since the day after Ruiz’s injury, Adams has raised his average from .097 to .206. In that span, he’s hitting .262 (31-for-118) with four homers and 11 RBIs. Thursday was his eighth multihit game of the season and his fifth since July 21.
Adams has spent part or all of the past five seasons in the Majors, and he already has career highs in games played (58), at-bats (180) and home runs (seven). His 37 hits and 19 RBIs are two shy of career highs set in 2023.
“Another guy that got an opportunity, and he’s taken advantage of it,” Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore said. “That’s what this game is all about, and he’s a great example of it.”
Gore allowed Francisco Lindor’s home run to lead off the game and Starling Marte’s solo shot in the third. Gore yielded three runs in 4 1/3 innings while striking out five and walking four.
Jackson Rutledge (2-2) got the final two outs of the fifth, and Clayton Beeter and PJ Poulin followed with 1-2-3 innings. Cole Henry retired two of the three batters he faced, and Jose A. Ferrer struck out pinch-hitter Jeff McNeil to end the eighth before handling the ninth for his fourth save.
Washington relievers pitched 8 1/3 scoreless innings over the final two games of the series.
Ferrer recorded saves on back-to-back days for the first time in his career, throwing 28 pitches (18 strikes) to record his four outs Thursday. After surrendering Lindor’s two-out single in the ninth, the left-hander got Juan Soto to chase a low changeup for his third strikeout to end the game.
In seven outings since Aug. 6, Ferrer is 2-0 with four saves without allowing a run. In that span, his ERA has dipped from 5.03 to 4.29 --- its lowest point since April 20.
“He’s been outstanding,” Cairo said. “I knew he threw a little too much, but he’s going to have his day off. We didn’t want to use another pitcher. He was already warm. … I wanted him to finish that inning, and we’ll figure it out tomorrow.”