The Washington Nationals will look to pick up where they left off against the visiting New York Mets when the teams meet Saturday for the second contest of their four-game series.
After squandering a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning, the Nationals rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth in a 5-4 victory over the Mets. James Wood’s two-out RBI single scored CJ Abrams from first base and ended New York’s seven-game winning streak.
“They’re a division rival,” said Washington starter Jake Irvin, who allowed a run over 7 1/3 innings. “These are games that we have to win. Maybe it’s just digging a little bit deeper. But these are games you really, really want.”
New York’s Clay Holmes (2-1, 3.16 ERA) faces Washington’s Brad Lord (0-2, 4.73) on Saturday in a battle of right-handers.
The Mets have received strong starting pitching throughout the early part of the season, and Holmes is no exception. He has given up two earned runs or fewer in four his five starts, including one run in each of his past two outings.
On Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals, Holmes allowed one run on four hits over six innings. He struck out six and walked two in his longest start of the season but didn’t get a decision in the 7-4 win.
Holmes is 0-1 with 4.05 ERA in four relief appearances versus Washington.
Lord will make his fourth start after opening the season in the bullpen. Last time out, he gave up two runs on five hits in four innings of a 3-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies. He struck out five and walked two and was charged with the loss.
“I thought he threw the ball really well,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “Very poised. I think we have something special in Lord. He goes out there, he wants the ball, he’s constantly attacking. He’s got a good sense of what he wants to do out there.”
Lord has not allowed a home run in 13 1/3 innings this season.
The Nationals have won five of their last seven games.
Wood’s walk-off hit was the first of his young career. He finished the game 2-for-5 and has reached base in 19 of his last 21 games. Over that span he has 11 extra base hits, 18 RBIs, 12 walks, two stolen bases and 16 runs.
Dylan Crews was 3-for-4 with a triple and a run scored on Friday. He has reached safely in nine of his past 10 games.
The Mets thought the storybook ending would be theirs in the series opener. New York erupted for four runs in the eighth, three coming on a bloop triple down the right-field line by Mark Vientos.
Vientos has hits in nine of his last 10 games. He is 11-for-38 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs and nine RBIs in that stretch.
Closer Edwin Diaz left Wednesday’s game with a left hip cramp, and Ryne Stanek got the save opportunity Friday night but couldn’t finish off the ninth. Manager Carlos Mendoza said Diaz’s recent workload was the reason for Stanek’s appearance.
“With the workload I was down today, but I will be good (Saturday),” Diaz told the New York Post.
Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez and second baseman Jeff McNeil both went 1-for-4 in their first action of 2025 after returning from the injured list.
–Field Level Media
