The New York Mets fell hard tonight to the Max Scherzer-led Nationals, with Daniel Murphy’s first inning grand slam leading the charge.
Although it’s just April, tonight’s ESPN showdown against the Washington Nationals felt like a must-win for the New York Mets, as the Nats closed out their sweep in the three-game set at Citi Field.- Final Score: Nationals 6 (13-5), Mets 3 (8-11)
- W: Max Scherzer (3-1)
- L: Zack Wheeler (1-2)
- S: Koda Glover (2)
- NL, Final, Box Score
- Citi Field, Queens, New York
Everybody Murphs
If you’ve heard this before just turn away — Daniel Murphy crushed his ex-franchise again tonight, hitting a first inning grand slam off Zack Wheeler.
In 22 games, Daniel Murphy now has 8 HR and 25 RBIs against his former club. https://t.co/hJxgIEmZS5 #PapaSlam pic.twitter.com/WkS8sLWAUN
— Blackstundotcom (@blackstundotcom) April 24, 2017
Murph is just an absolute superhuman against the Mets. Before tonight, the lefty had hit .393/.429/.714 with seven homers and 21 RBIs over 21 games against the team from Queens.
The combination of a Murphy grand slam giving 2016 NL Cy Young winner Max Scherzer a four-run lead, along with a depleted Mets lineup left many fans feeling hopeless going into the bottom of the first.
But, Michael ‘The Kid’ Conforto stopped the Nats’ momentum immediately, as the southpaw hit another opposite field lead-off solo shot to put the Mets on the board, giving the fans something to cheer about.
Check out the count & pitch location with this oppo HR by @mconforto8. Aggressive in a advantage count & takes outside pitch the other way. pic.twitter.com/NjtC8zQQI9
— Hudson High Baseball (@BecomeABanner) April 24, 2017
Two innings later, Neil Walker hit a two-run shot to cut the lead to just one. It was Walker’s second long ball of the season.
#Mets cut it to 4-3 with Neil Walker homer on #SundayNightBaseball pic.twitter.com/bjL6CJMBun
— Eddie Kalegi (@EddieKalegi) April 24, 2017
But this depleted Mets lineup could muster no more against Scherzer and the Nationals.
Wheeler Nearly Dealin’
Aside from the rough first inning, Wheeler flat-out dominated a very tough Nationals lineup. Minus the Murphy slam, the Nats failed to score again off of Wheeler.
His final line tonight goes as follows: 7 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.
Wheeler’s fastball command was tremendous tonight, and he proved he can still dominate a stacked lineup. Though the stat-line wasn’t completely pristine, this was a very encouraging performance from Mr. Wheeler.
More Issues For the ‘Pen
After getting the first two men out in the eighth inning tonight, lefty Josh Smoker allowed a single, following it with a two-run home run. Any hope of a Mets comeback vanished as soon as the ball left the bat of first baseman Ryan Zimmerman.
https://twitter.com/TheRenderMLB/status/856346904032161793
Closer Jeurys Familia pitched a perfect ninth tonight. Famila was able to command the strike zone much better, and looks to have turned a page.
The Mets have the night off tomorrow, and then begin a series with the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.
