Mets @ Nationals: 03/30 1:05 PM ET; SNY, MASN, MLBN; WCBS, ESPN, WJFK

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GAME 2, ROAD GAME 2

Saturday, 30th March
1:05 PM ET
Nationals Park




METS -- STANDINGS -- NATIONALS



METS -- LEADERS -- NATIONALS



METS -- BATTING -- NATIONALS



METS -- PITCHING -- NATIONALS



METS -- TRANSACTIONS - INJURIES



NATIONALS -- TRANSACTIONS - INJURIES



GAME START WEATHER



METS -- LINEUPS -- NATIONALS

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Nationals' Strasburg Gets Crack at Cano, Mets



WASHINGTON -- After the Mets acquired Robinson Cano from Seattle he went out to eat "several times" with Mickey Callaway, now in his second year as the manager.

It didn't take Callaway long to realize Cano would make his new team better.

"I saw it right away," Callaway said.

And the left-handed hitting second baseman has made a difference right away for the Mets (1-0), who send Noah Syndergaard to the mound Saturday in Washington against Stephen Strasburg.

Strasburg is 8-5 with a 2.83 ERA in 17 career starts against the Mets, but that didn't include Cano as part of the lineup.

Cano had a solo homer in his first at-bat with the team. He also had an RBI single and helped turn a nifty double play in the 2-0 Opening Day win on Thursday.

What was the most impressive?

"Can I say all of the above? He is probably the only guy in baseball that makes that play," Callaway said of the double play in the third.

A pair of speedsters were on the bases - Victor Robles at third and Adam Eaton at first - when Anthony Rendon hit a grounder to short in the third inning. The Mets got the force at second and when Robles broke for home, Cano threw to catcher Wilson Ramos and Robles was trapped in a rundown to end the inning against Jacob deGrom.

"Make other teams pay when they make a mistake," Callaway said of Cano. "He shows the rest of the team ... what winning is all about. Fighting off a good pitch for an RBI (single) or making a head's up baseball play (in the field). That is what it takes to win. He is an impact baseball guy who brings knowledge to what he does. He makes us a much better team."

Nationals manager Dave Martinez, also in his second season, took some heat for not pinch-hitting for Max Scherzer in the last of the seventh Thursday with his team losing 1-0.

"We had six more outs to get a run. I knew that spot would come up again, I was trying to save (Matt Adams) to face either (Edwin) Diaz or (Jeurys) Familia if we get to that spot," Martinez said. "I communicate with Max day in and day out during the games and he looked good. I was trying to give him a chance to stay in the game and win the game, and I knew we had six outs with our top guys coming up to hit."

"We had some chances early on and didn't execute," Nationals right fielder Eaton said. "That's kind of how it goes with the talent that was on the mound."

Right-hander Syndergaard is 3-5, 3.43 in 12 appearances (all starts) against the Nationals, with two starts last year. Strasburg faced the Mets just once in 2018. New York is the team he has faced the least in his career in the division.

Syndergaard made headlines recently when he blasted the team's decision to fly from Florida to Syracuse, New York, the home of the Mets' new Triple-A affiliate. The team plane was three hours late Monday leaving Florida, and the Mets worked out in Syracuse before heading to D.C. before the opener Thursday. Both teams were off Friday.

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METSCELLANEOUS: The Mets are now 38-20 (.655) on Opening Day, the best winning percentage in major league history...The Mets have won 38 of their last 50 (.760) Opening Day contests...New York posted its ninth shutout (2-0) on Opening and first since 2017 vs. Atlanta.

PUTTING UP ZEROS: Dating back to September 28, 2018, the Mets pitching staff has hurled 33.0 straight scoreless innings, which is the fifth-longest streak in franchise history...Below is the list.

LONGEST TEAM SCORELESS STREAKS
Courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau

42.0 innings	Sept. 23-Sept 28, 1969
38.0 innings	April 13-April 15, 1968
36.0 innings	Sept. 10-Sept. 13, 1969
35.0 innings	May 25-May 28, 2010
33.0 innings	Sept. 28, 2018-present

NOAH SYNDERGAARD: Enters today's game with a career best 15.0 inning scoreless streak...Went 11-3 in his last 17 starts...Was 4-1 with a 1.73 ERA (eight earned runs/41.2 innings) last September...Pitched his first-career shutout (won, 1-0) on September 30, 2018 vs. Miami...Was the first Mets pitcher with multiple complete games in a season since Dillon Gee (two in 2013)...Was tied for the major league lead in complete games (two) and shutouts (one) last year...Syndergaard had a 0.52 homer per nine innings rate last year, the third-lowest in the majors (min. 150.0 innings)... Among all pitchers with 150.0 or more innings in 2018, Syndergaard ranked second among soft contact (25.3%).

deGROMINATION: Jacob deGrom has now allowed three runs or fewer in 30 straight starts dating to April 16, 2018...It is the longest overall streak in major league history…deGrom was tied with Jake Arrieta (June 21, 2015-May 20, 2016)...In addition, deGrom has now tossed 25 straight quality starts dating to May 18, 2018...That streak is tied for the second-longest in major league history with Eddie Cicotte (1916-1917)…Bob Gibson holds the record with 26 quality starts from 1967-1968...deGrom has thrown 19.0 straight scoreless innings dating to September 21, 2018.

ELITE COMPANY: Jacob deGrom struck out 10 batters and issued only one walk on Thursday...It was the 19th time in deGrom's career, he has struck out 10 or more batters and issued one or fewer walks...Only Tom Seaver has more such games (25) in team history.

EDWIN DÍAZ: Closed out Thursday's 2-0 win with a 1-2-3 ninth inning...It was his first save with the Mets...Díaz was the AL Reliever of the Year in 2018 after collecting 57 saves...Díaz has converted 11 straight save opportunities dating to August 20, 2018.

ROBINSON CANÓ: Became the 10th player to hit a home run in his first at-bat with the Mets when he went deep off Max Scherzer in the first inning on Thursday...The last to do so was Mike Jacobs on August 21, 2005 (first ML at-bat)...Cano became the fourth Mets second baseman to hit a homer on Opening Day, joining Kazuo Matsui (2015), Jeff Kent (1994) and Charlie Neal (1962).

WILSON RAMOS: Returns to Nationals Park after spending 2010-2016 with Washington...Ramos hit 83 homers, 90 doubles and had 320 RBI in 578 games with the Nationals...Ramos is a .280 (284-1,014) hitter with 41 home runs at Nationals Park. PETE ALONSO: Collected his first major league hit, a single off Justin Miller, for his first major league hit...He finished 1-2...Alonso led all minor leaguers in homers (36) and RBI (119) last year.

MICHAEL CONFORTO: Has two homers in 18 plate appearances vs. Stephen Strasburg...Conforto has five career home runs at Nationals Park, his second-most in a visiting ballpark, behind Citizens Bank Park (nine).

METS VS. STRASBURG: Stephen Strasburg is 8-5 with a 2.83 ERA (33 earned runs/105.0 innings) in 17 career starts vs. the Mets.

JOHN J. MURPHY AWARD: Infielder Jeff McNeil was voted by the media as the 2019 John J. Murphy Award winner, as the top Mets player in his first Spring Training camp…McNeil hit .352 (19-54), with three doubles, four homers, nine RBI, 11 runs scored and a 1.005 OPS.

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1969 METS: This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Miracle Mets...The 1969 Mets captured the hearts of baseball fans across the world when they beat the Braves in the NLCS and then topped the heavily-favored Baltimore Orioles in five games in the World Series...The Mets will celebrate their historic achievement all season long...The highlight of the year will be a weekend celebration, June 28-30 vs. Atlanta when members of the team will return to Queens.

MASS TRANSIT: The Mets would to like to encourage fans to take mass transit to Citi Field for the Mets Home Opener, Thursday, April 4 vs. Washington...Mass Transit is the fastest and greenest way to Citi Field...The Mets Home Opener is sold out...Taking mass transit is the easiest way to the game.

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Top of 1:
Mets first. Nimmo struck out. Alonso singled to right. Canó struck out. Conforto singled to center, Alonso to third. On center fielder Robles' throwing error, Conforto to second. Ramos doubled to right, Alonso scored, Conforto scored. McNeil tripled to center, Ramos scored. Rosario struck out.
Runs: 3, Hits: 4

Bottom of 1:
Nationals first. Eaton struck out. Turner struck out. Rendon doubled to right. Soto singled to right, Rendon scored. Soto stole second. Zimmerman struck out.
Runs: 1, Hits: 2

Top of 2:
Mets second. Davis grounded out, shortstop Turner to first baseman Zimmerman. Syndergaard walked on a full count. Nimmo sacrificed, third baseman Rendon to first baseman Zimmerman, Syndergaard to second. Alonso doubled to center, Syndergaard scored. On Suzuki's passed ball, Alonso to third. Canó flied out to center fielder Robles.
Runs: 1, Hits: 1

Bottom of 2:
Nationals second. Suzuki grounded out, third baseman Davis to first baseman Alonso. Dozier flied out to left fielder McNeil. Strasburg struck out.
Runs: 0, Hits: 0

Top of 3:
Mets third. Conforto struck out. Ramos struck out. McNeil singled to center. Rosario singled to right, McNeil to second. Davis grounded out, second baseman Dozier to first baseman Zimmerman.
Runs: 0, Hits: 2

Bottom of 3:
Nationals third. Robles homered to left on a 0-1 count. Eaton was hit by a pitch. Turner grounded out, shortstop Rosario to first baseman Alonso, Eaton to second. Rendon struck out. Soto singled to left, Eaton scored. Zimmerman grounded out, third baseman Davis to first baseman Alonso.
Runs: 2, Hits: 2

Top of 4:
Mets fourth. Syndergaard grounded out, first baseman Zimmerman unassisted. Nimmo walked on a full count. Alonso struck out. Canó lined out to right fielder Eaton.
Runs: 0, Hits: 0

Bottom of 4:
Nationals fourth. Suzuki grounded out, shortstop Rosario to first baseman Alonso. Dozier grounded out, second baseman Canó to first baseman Alonso. Strasburg grounded out, first baseman Alonso unassisted.
Runs: 0, Hits: 0

Top of 5:
Mets fifth. Conforto grounded out, second baseman Dozier to first baseman Zimmerman. Ramos grounded out, second baseman Dozier to first baseman Zimmerman. McNeil flied out to left fielder Soto.
Runs: 0, Hits: 0

Bottom of 5:
Nationals fifth. Robles singled to left. Robles was picked off, pitcher Syndergaard to first baseman Alonso. Eaton flied out to right fielder Conforto. Turner doubled to left. Rendon struck out.
Runs: 0, Hits: 2

Top of 6:
Mets sixth. Rosario grounded out, shortstop Turner to first baseman Zimmerman. Davis struck out. Syndergaard struck out.
Runs: 0, Hits: 0

Bottom of 6:
Nationals sixth. Soto doubled to center. Zimmerman grounded out, shortstop Rosario to first baseman Alonso, Soto to third. Suzuki hit a sacrifice fly to left fielder McNeil, Soto scored. Dozier struck out.
Runs: 1, Hits: 1

Top of 7:
Mets seventh. Sipp pitching. Nimmo struck out. Alonso walked on a full count. Canó grounded out, first baseman Zimmerman unassisted, Alonso to second. Conforto grounded out, first baseman Zimmerman unassisted.
Runs: 0, Hits: 0

Bottom of 7:
Nationals seventh. Noll pinch-hitting for Sipp. Wilson pitching. Noll grounded out, third baseman Davis to first baseman Alonso. Robles flied out to left fielder McNeil. Eaton flied out to center fielder Nimmo.
Runs: 0, Hits: 0

Top of 8:
Mets eighth. Rosenthal pitching. Ramos hit an infield single to shortstop. McNeil singled to center, Ramos to second. Rosario walked on a full count, Ramos to third, McNeil to second. Davis singled to right, Ramos scored, McNeil scored, Rosario to third. Broxton pinch-hitting for Wilson. Barraclough pitching. Smith pinch-hitting for Broxton. On Barraclough's balk, Rosario scored, Davis to second. Smith lined out to first baseman Zimmerman. Nimmo grounded out, first baseman Zimmerman unassisted, Davis to third. Alonso doubled to right, Davis scored. Grace pitching. Canó struck out.
Runs: 4, Hits: 4

Bottom of 8:
Nationals eighth. Familia pitching. Smith in as first baseman. Turner struck out. Rendon singled to center. Soto struck out. Zimmerman walked on a full count, Rendon to second. Suzuki safe at first on fielding error by third baseman Davis, Rendon to third, Zimmerman to second. Adams pinch-hitting for Dozier. Lugo pitching. Adams flied out to right fielder Conforto.
Runs: 0, Hits: 1

Top of 9:
Mets ninth. Difo in as second baseman. Conforto singled to left. Suero pitching. Ramos walked on a full count, Conforto to second. McNeil doubled to right, Conforto scored, Ramos to third. Rosario grounded out, pitcher Suero to first baseman Zimmerman. Davis grounded out, shortstop Turner to first baseman Zimmerman. Smith singled to center, Ramos scored, McNeil scored. Smith to second. Nimmo struck out.
Runs: 3, Hits: 3

Bottom of 9:
Nationals ninth. Lagares in as center fielder. Stevenson pinch-hitting for Suero. Stevenson walked on a full count. Robles safe at first on fielder's choice plus fielding error by second baseman Canó, Stevenson to second. Eaton struck out. Turner walked on a full count, Stevenson to third, Robles to second. Rendon was hit by a pitch, Stevenson scored, Robles to third, Turner to second. Soto struck out. Zimmerman doubled to left, Robles scored, Turner scored, Rendon scored. Díaz pitching. Suzuki flied out to left fielder McNeil.
Runs: 4, Hits: 1

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Davis, Alonso Lead New Mets Past Nats 11-8 for 2-0 Start


by HOWARD FENDRICH

WASHINGTON -- Pete Alonso and the rest of these new-look Mets are playing just how the club had hoped.

It's just two games, of course, but 2-0 is better than 0-2 - which is where the Washington Nationals are as they adjust to life without Bryce Harper.

Alonso contributed three hits, two RBIs and a pair of nifty stretch plays at first base in Game 2 of his major league career, and fellow youngsters J.D. Davis, Jeff McNeil and Dominic Smith all played a part in lifting the Mets past the Nationals 11-8 on Saturday.

"We kind of figured that would be the case - that these guys were going to come up and contribute. That's one of the reasons we wanted them on the team or we went and acquired those guys," second-year manager Mickey Callaway said. "We saw that talent and knew they would be impactful players. They definitely came through today."

Davis delivered a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning, Smith also drove in a pair of runs and so did McNeil, who had four hits in front of a crowd that featured pockets of New York fans chanting "Let's go, Mets!" and "Where is Harper?"

Smith is 23, Alonso 24, Davis 25 and McNeil 26.

None debuted earlier than 2017.

"You've got (Alonso) trying to knock down outfield walls. J.D.'s making great plays behind me. And Jeff McNeil is hitting the ball all over the yard," Mets starter Noah Syndergaard said. "It's fun to watch. I look forward to a lot more of that this season."

Alonso's first game in the majors came Thursday on opening day.

"This is the most fun I've had playing baseball," he said. "I feel blessed, and I'm living the dream right now. I'm just having a blast out there."

Another offseason acquisition by agent-turned-GM Brodie Van Wagenen, closer Edwin Diaz, picked up his second save with one pitch by getting Kurt Suzuki to fly out with a man on in the ninth after Seth Lugo let a seven-run lead shrink to three.

Much earlier, Syndergaard and Stephen Strasburg, left with identical lines: six innings, four runs, seven hits. This one came down to the bullpens, and while neither fared that well, Washington's rebuilt version really flopped.

Justin Wilson (1-0) threw a perfect seventh to earn the win. Otherwise, it was an adventure out there.

Nationals reliever Trevor Rosenthal (0-1) was booed off the mound in his return from Tommy John surgery after entering a 4-all game in the eighth and allowing all four batters he faced to reach base.

Rosenthal led the majors with 93 saves over the 2014-15 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals but last appeared in a regular-season game in August 2017. He was signed by Washington as a free agent based on an offseason workout and still can throw 100 mph, but he gave up three singles and a walk and failed to get an out.

"A good step forward getting back," Rosenthal said. "But obviously didn't end up how I wanted it to."

He gave way to Kyle Barraclough, another new reliever, acquired in a trade with Miami. His Nationals debut was every bit as inauspicious: Before throwing a single pitch, Barraclough let in a run via a balk. After getting a couple of outs, he served up Alonso's second double of the day.

ROBLES' DAY

Rookie Victor Robles hit Washington's only homer of the season, but he also had some adventures. There were a couple of bad jumps on balls to center field. A throw to the wrong base in New York's three-run first inning. And he got picked off first for his second baserunning gaffe in two games. "You've got to remember he's 21 years old and he's playing in the big leagues. I've been there. I know the struggle," manager Dave Martinez said. "He's going to get better."

UP NEXT

In Sunday's series finale, LHP Patrick Corbin will make his debut for the Nationals, who signed him to a $140 million, six-year contract. The Mets start RHP Zack Wheeler, who is 4-8 with a 4.37 ERA against Washington over his career.