On the strength of seven home runs in the first four innings, the Washington Nationals clobbered the Mets, 11-3 at First Data Field. Yan Gomes and Anthony Rendon each homered twice while Ryan Zimmerman, Adam Eaton and Matt Adams also went yard for Washington. (Box Score)
Steven Matz started for the Mets, his fourth start of the spring. On the fifth pitch of the game he allowed his first of four home runs, this one to Eaton to set the tone of his outing. Before the first inning was over, Matz would give up five-runs highlighted by a three-run bomb to Gomes and before the fans got comfortable in their seats, the Mets were behind 5-0.
The Nats would add three runs in the second on homers by Rendon and Zimmerman. After Zimmerman’s blast, Washington had four home runs in their first 13 batters. To be fair, the wind was blowing out to left and a couple of the four-baggers would have been routine fly-outs to left. Matz was lifted in the third after throwing 48 pitches and continued pitching on a backfield to get his pitch count up. He said after the game that today was “a really good reminder” that he must keep the ball down in the strike zone.
Mets’ closer Edwin Diaz was not immune to the home run barrage as he gave up homers to Rendon and Adams in the fourth inning.
Eaton led off the game with a home run off of Mets starter Steven Matz to get the Nationals an early lead. Anthony Rendon singled followed by a walk to Zimmerman to put two men on. Adams doubled to give the Nats a 2-0 lead. With two-men on, Gomes stepped to the plate and cleared the bases with a three-run dinger to complete the five-run inning.
In the second inning, Matz was still on the hill and after two ground outs to Luis Guillorme, gave up three consecutive two-out hits. Trea Turner singled and scored on a Rendon home run. The Nats would go back-to-back as the next batter, Ryan Zimmerman, also went yard to give the Nats an 8-0 lead. That hit would end the afternoon for Matz who gave up eight runs and seven hits with only one strikeout and a walk.
Eric Hanhold pitched the third for New York and gave up Gomes’ second home run of the game making the score 9-1.
In the fourth, Edwin Diaz came into pitch and would give up the Nationals final two runs. He allowed home runs to Rendon and Adams to give Washington an 11-2 lead.
Robert Gsellman pitched a 1-2-3 fifth.
Luis Avilan had a nice bounce back effort pitching two scoreless innings, he has a 1.86 ERA this spring and looks like a lock to make the Opening Day roster.
Ryan O’Rourke pitched the eighth and ninth innings allowing only one hit while striking out three.
The Mets managed three runs and nine hits this afternoon. They scored single runs in the second, third and seventh innings.
Nationals starter Jeremy Hellickson pitched around some trouble in the first, but couldn’t escape damage in the second. Keon Broxton stroked a double and was driven home by a two-bagger by Luis Guillorme scoring Broxton. Guillorme has hit .393 this spring with three doubles, home run, and has played solid defensively as well.
In the third inning, the Mets put runners on the corners on a double by Brandon Nimmo and a single by Jeff McNeil. Robinson Cano into a double play scoring Nimmo to plate the Mets second run.
The Mets would get their final run on a sacrifice fly by Rajai Davis scoring Broxton who had singled. Broxton was the lone Met with a multi-hit game, he had two hits and two runs scored.
The Mets go to Jupiter tomorrow to play the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Game time is 1:05 p.m. Jason Vargas is scheduled to pitch for the Mets opposed by Sandy Alcantara. The game will be broadcast by WCBS-880 AM.
