Mets hooks the citizens while Rick Porcello steps forward

WASHINGTON – The battle between the 2016 Cy Young award winners ended with one injured and the other in control.

If you guessed Rick Porcello as the injured, given the Mets’ health woes this week and Max Scherzer’s ability to dominate, wrong answer.

In the kind of performance the team had envisioned when they gave Porcello a one-year contract for $ 10 million last season, the right bounced off two short starts (one of which was abysmal) and led the Mets to a win. for 3-1 out of the citizens.

Scherzer, looking uncomfortable, allowed a run in the first inning and never returned to the mound for the second, starting with what has been termed a modified right hamstring. He left the Nationals to put together a bullpen match, albeit effectively, as the Mets only scored twice in the next eight innings.

Porcello was efficient, needing only 81 shots to finish seven innings in which he conceded a five-stroke run for career win # 1. 150. Followed Porcello’s four-inning performance in Atlanta last Friday in which manager Luis Rojas brought a quick hook and a nightmare two-innings start in his debut with the Mets which included seven allowed runs against the Braves.

“When I throw the ball like tonight I feel like I’m giving us a chance to win every time and that’s the most important thing,” Porcello said.

The Mets helped him with two defensive beauties. In fourth, third base JD Davis leapt to his right and threw from his knees to pull Eric Thames for the final out. It came moments after Michael Conforto knocked out Juan Soto in an attempt to reach third place on Asdrubal Cabrera’s single.

“I guess there is a bit of momentum when you get balls on the ground, the guys are making some great plays and things are working out,” Porcello said. “You want to keep that rhythm working, it forces them to put it into play. They hit a lot of balls and from what I remember we made all the plays. “

Seth Lugo, who hadn’t pitched since last Friday when he was hit by a parade that exploded during a bullpen crash in Atlanta, pitched two closing innings to preserve Porcello’s gem. The rescue was Lugo’s second.

The beaten Mets (5-8) can enjoy Thursday’s rest before starting a streak of 17 consecutive days with a match scheduled. Four games against the Nationals at Citi Field next week are included.

The Mets started the day leading the MLB with runners remaining on base and added to that total with nine others, but managed to receive enough from their lineup. This included two RBI from Dominic Smith and another from Luis Guillorme, starting with the injured Robinson Cano’s place at second base. Smith gave the Mets a pillow with a double RBI in the seventh.

Porcello surrendered in the first inning on Soto’s RBI brace, but was not touched afterwards. Soto, who has returned to the cleanup point, had lost his previous eight international games to open the season after testing positive for coronavirus.

“[Porcello] held the ball very well, “said Rojas.” He shuffled so well, induced a lot of contacts, kept a good ball count. What a great performance to earn his 150th career win. “

Scherzer’s removal after the first inning marked the second time this week as the Mets faced an ace within the division and saw him leave with a disturbance. On Monday, Braves right-footed Mike Soroka tore off his right Achilles as it broke from the mound. Soroka will be banned next season.

Smith’s sacrificial flight in the first gave the Mets their run after Scherzer accompanied Brandon Nimmo to lead the game and Conforto picked him in third place.

“We did a good job of grinding [Scherzer] out in the first inning, “Davis said.” We got it close to 30 shots. … We did a good job and this kind of play is a good step for the team to put it all together and hopefully we can get this avalanche thing “.