WASHINGTON — What the New York Mets probably needed the most was a rainout to let all of their overworked arms rest. But what they got, they’ll take: A 2-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Thursday afternoon at Nationals Park.
The Mets (22-28) split the series with the Nats (25-26) with a game that featured only minimal errors and misplays, and no pitching blowups. Protecting a one-run lead against a team that leads the league in runs scored required solid baseball, which is what they finally showed.
It was nothing flashy, but after two roller coaster-like games, they needed one like this.
David Peterson made his first start in nearly a month, holding the Nationals to one earned run over five innings. The Mets have tried to mitigate the struggles of the lefty by using him behind an opener, usually Huascar Brazobán, and while Brazobán did factor into the game, it was after Peterson had already thrown 82 pitches.
Peterson (3-4) loaded the bases in the first inning with two outs, walking three straight hitters. He struck out Daylen Lile to get out of trouble.
From there, he eliminated the walks, and worked effectively to limit baserunners, allowing only four hits and striking out three. Washington scored its only run in the fifth inning. Then, with a runner on third and two outs, Mark Vientos made a diving stop on a hard grounder from CJ Abrams to end the inning.
Bo Bichette’s two-run single provided the Mets with early offense in the third inning. After a tough April, the player the Mets signed to drive in runs has done exactly that. He drove in nine runs in four games in Washington, with a double and three home runs, and has now hit safely in the last five games.
Washington right-hander Cade Cavalli deftly worked around traffic throughout his seven-inning outing. Cavalli got out of the third inning with runners on first and second by getting Juan Soto to look at called strike three, and Vientos to ground into a force-out. He had a runner on second base in the fourth, thanks in part to an error by his right fielder, but he retired the next three.
Cavalli pitched well, giving up two earned runs on four hits, striking out nine and walking one, but still took the loss (1-3). The Mets went 2 for 7 with runners in scoring position against him, stranding four runners.
Overall, the lineup still missed opportunities. They had the bases loaded in the top of the ninth with no outs, but MJ Melendez, Luis Torrens and Carson Benge went down in order against Orlando Ribalta. The bullpen was there to bail them out.
Brazobán, left-hander Brooks Raley and right-hander Luke Weaver did their jobs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, protecting a 2-1 lead. Williams pitched around a leadoff double to pick up his seventh save of the season.
It’s not clear who the Mets have lined up for three games this weekend in Miami, but they should have their high-leverage arms available since the back-end trio only pitched Monday and Thursday. Long reliever Tobias Myers should be available as well.
The Mets aren’t out of the woods when it comes to pitching, especially since they haven’t had a starter go seven innings in more than a week, but a gritty win should help energize them going into another NL East series this weekend.
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