Remembering Mets History (2017) Mets Take First Two in D.C. End Skid

The 2017 Mets were in a place no one expected them to be at. They had fallen to last place struggling through a six game losing streak, dropping ten of their last eleven. Injuries, an MLB suspension to their closer & bad breaks got them here. But it is only April, their manager Terry Collins told them to look ahead, be aggressive & a weekend series against the first place, rival Nationals may be just what they needed to turn things around.

Friday April 28th, 2017: A large crowd of 34,532 including a contingent of Mets fans, making the journey, filed in to Nationals Park to see the Nats ace Matt Scherzer take in Mets star, Jacob deGrom.

In the 2nd inning, Travis d'Arnaud started off his big night with a two run HR off Scherzer giving the Mets a 2-0 lead. In the bottom frame, the hot hitting Ryan Zimmerman as well as Matt Wieders both homered putting Washington ahead 3-2.

In the 4th, after Jose Reyes singled & T.J. Rivera walked, Travis d'Arnaud became the first catcher since Hall of Famers; Mike Piazza & Gary Carter to have a multiple HR game. d'Arnaud's HR put New York up 5-3.

Jacob deGrom got the Mets to the 8th inning, settling in after allowing the two long balls, by striking out a total of 12 Nats, while walking just one. It was his third straight game with double digit strike out totals, as he became the NL Leader in strike outs (44) as well as strike outs per nine innings (12.5) on his way to his second win of the year (2-3) lowering his ERA to 2.84.

In a wacky 8th inning, Jose Reyes doubled, T.J., Rivera then reached on an error & stole second. Travis d'Arnaud then walked to load the bases. After a pitching change, Kevin Plawecki connected with a pinch hit RBI single. Michael Conforto then drew a bases loaded walk to make it 7-3.

In the home 8th, Addison Reed came in to relieve Jerry Blevins with a runner on second & the hot Zimmerman at the plate. Reed, who has not been the Reed of 2016 served up a two run HR making it a 7-5 game.

In the 9th, a rusty Mets closer Jeurys Familia, still looking for his first save of the year, quickly loaded the bases with no one out. He reared back to strike out Trea Turner for the first out.

Then in a surprising turn of events, Manager Terry Collins came out of the dugout & took the ball from an upset Jeurys Familia. He brought in Josh Edgin to face Bryce Harper, whom he had never faced before. Daniel Murphy tried to give some insight to Harper about Edgin but it certainly didn't help.

Edgin got Harper to ground out to the mound, Edgin threw to the plate, d'Arnaud caught it & stepped on the plate. He then threw to first nailing Harper for the game ending double play. The Mets had a much needed win.

Saturday April 29th, 2017: The Mets regrouped & sent Zack Wheeler to the mound to face Steven Strasburg in front of 36, 501 including lots of Mets fans.

In the 1st, Ryan Zimmerman continued his hot streak with an RBI base hit making it 1-0. In the 5th inning, Jose Reyes who is slowly staring to break out of his hitting funk, led off with a base hit. T.J. Rivera who is also hitting well in this series, doubled to left field. Travis d'Arnaud then reached on a fielders choice scoring Reyes to tie it. Then todays hero, the hot hitting Michael Conforto blasted a two run HR to right center field making it 3-1 Mets.

In the bottom of the 5th, the Nats scrapped another run after a Reyes error, a single & an infield hit. Terry Collins then pulled Wheeler bringing in Josh Edgin, who got Murphy to fly out to right field to end the inning.

In 4.2 innings Wheeler allowed two runs on five hits, with four strike outs & four walks. Hansel Robles would pitch 1.2 innings of hitless ball.

In the 8th inning, Michael Conforto hit his 6th HR of the year, his second of the day making it 4-2 Mets. In the bottom of the 8th Addison Reed allowed another HR  to Ryan Zimmerman, making it a one run game once again. In the top of the 9th Jose Reyes blasted his second HR of the year, topping off his multi hit game.

In the bottom of the 9th, Jeurys Familia earned his first save of the year with a 1-2-3 inning, closing out the game with a strike out. The Mets took the first two in D.C hopefully turning their season around.