James McCann’s tiebreaking sacrifice fly capped a three-run sixth inning Tuesday night for the visiting New York Mets, who overcame an early deficit to edge the Washington Nationals 4-2 in the opener of a three-game series.
The victory was the National League-leading 21st of the season for the Mets, who won each of their previous nine series. The Nationals lost for the fifth time in six games.
Washington starter Patrick Corbin stymied the Mets over the first five innings and exited with a 2-0 lead. New York broke out in the sixth against Carl Edwards Jr. (0-1), who was making his Nationals debut after being promoted earlier in the day from Triple-A Rochester.
Pete Alonso and J.D. Davis greeted Edwards with singles before Starling Marte struck out. Eduardo Escobar drew a walk to load the bases, and Jeff McNeil delivered a game-tying, two-run double. McCann followed with his sacrifice fly.
The Mets added an insurance run in the ninth, when Mark Canha reached on a throwing error by third baseman Maikel Franco, went to third on Francisco Lindor’s single and scored on Davis’ sacrifice fly to deep right field.
Lindor and McNeil each had two of the Mets’ eight hits.
New York starter Carlos Carrasco (3-1) allowed two runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out five over 6 2/3 innings. Carrasco, who tossed eight scoreless innings against the Atlanta Braves in his previous start May 3, hadn’t lasted six innings in back-to-back starts since he did so in his last six starts for Cleveland in 2020.
Drew Smith got three outs in relief of Carrasco. Joely Rodriguez needed just one pitch to end the eighth inning by retiring Juan Soto, the potential go-ahead run, on a popup to third. Edwin Diaz worked around a hit in the ninth to earn his seventh save.
The Nationals scored single runs against Carrasco in the fourth, when Josh Bell and Nelson Cruz singled with one out before Bell scored on Maikel Franco’s two-out double, and the sixth, when Riley Adams homered.
Bell and Cruz each had two hits of the Nationals’ eight hits.
Corbin surrendered three hits and four walks while striking out five as he lowered his ERA from 7.16 to 6.06.
–Field Level Media