What started as a potential pitcher’s duel ended in favor of the New York Mets on Tuesday night when they beat the Washington Nationals 7-2 amid a sticky summer evening.
The arms on the mound – 2015 All-Star Jacob deGrom from the Mets and rookie call-up Joe Ross from the Nats – faced the minimum nine batters through the first three innings pitched before New York scored took to the scoreboard first.
The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when second baseman Wilmer Flores hit a two-out single off Ross to send outfielder Curtis Granderson home to score.
Washington answered back when catcher Wilson Ramos went long and dropped a home run off at the seats in right field with a two-out, two-run bomb off deGrom in the fifth inning, giving Washington a 2-1 lead.
Ross and deGrom continued their quality outings against the respective opposition’s batting order up until the seventh inning when a couple hits and an error gave New York a 3-2 lead. Flores led off the inning with a single before outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis reached on a throwing error made by first baseman Clint Robinson. Then, with one out, pinch hitter Eric Campbell entered the game in deGrom’s place, singling on a line drive to the outfield and sending two runs home to score.
A four-run, ninth inning rally helped the Mets ensure their 7-2 win over the Nats when Washington starter turned reliever Tanner Roark struggled with the location of his pitches. Roark was replaced by fresh call-up and rookie pitcher Abdel de Los Santos who made his Major League debut in addition to ending the late-game rally. All the runs scored by New York in the ninth were charged to Roark who lasted a third of an inning.
But – by the end of the night – Ross’ early work wasn’t enough to help Washington bridge the offensive gap. Ross threw 88 pitches and 59 strikes in 6 1/3 innings while giving up four hits, three runs (two earned), and striking out four batters. Ross is now 2-2 with a 2.70 ERA.
THE HERO: Ramos. For his two-run homer, giving the Nats their only lead of the night.
THE GOAT: Roark. For allowing the Mets to engage in a four-run rally in the ninth inning.
NATS NOTES: Abel de Los Santos made his MLB debut in a tough spot but Manager Matt Williams like what he saw from the young pitcher regardless of the game’s outcome.
NEXT UP: Noah Syndergaard (4-5, 3.05) and the New York Mets face Jordan Zimmermann (8-5, 3.27) and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Game starts at 12:35 p.m.
About Rachel Levitin