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In two starts against the New York Mets this season before tonight's outing in Citi Field, Washington Nationals' starter Stephen Strasburg was (2-0) with a 2.13 ERA, three walks (2.13 BB/9) and 21 Ks (14.92 K/9) in 12 ⅔ innings pitched, over which he held NY hitters to a combined .208/.255/.292 line.
Strasburg took the mound undefeated in 15 starts this season (11-0), with an unbeaten streak that stretched back over 19 starts to last September 9th, when the Nats' divisional rivals managed to beat him in Nationals Park. He was (14-0) over that stretch heading into the second game of four with New York.
Strasburg took a no-hit bid into the fifth, allowing just two walks through four, but gave up a solo home run by Asdrubal Cabrera in the sixth for the only run he allowed in seven innings of work in what ended up a 3-1 win.
He extended all his streaks in improving to (W, 12-0) on the year with an unbeaten streak that stretched back over 20 starts in which he was (15-0).
Mets' right-hander Noah Syndergaard took the mound (7-1) in his last 11 games, ten starts, with the only loss over that stretch to the Nats, who knocked him out after three in D.C. with seven hits and five runs, all earned in what ended up an 11-4 win for Washington.
Syndergaard fell behind early tonight when Clint Robinson hit a two-run home run to right on a 97 mph 1-1 fastball low and inside that the Nationals' first baseman clobbered. 2-0 Nats. Robinson's 5th.
Jayson Werth singled to center and scored on a double to center by Daniel Murphy in the Nationals' half of the third, with Murphy's 24th two-base hit of the season making it 3-0 over Syndergaard and the Mets.
Syndergaard left the game with two out in the fifth after a mound visit from the Mets' skipper and trainer. Seth Lugo took over on the mound for New York.
It was later reported as "arm fatigue" for Syndergaard, who's been dealing with a bone spur in his right elbow.
The Mets got on the board and broke up Strasburg's nascent no-hit bid with a leadoff home run to left on a full-count slider in bottom of the fifth. 3-1 Nationals. Cabrera's 12th.
• Stephen Strasburg's Line: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 Ks, 1 HR, 108 P, 67 S, 7/2 GO/FO.
It was still 3-1 in the eighth when Shawn Kelley took over on the mound and promplty gave up back-to-back hits, a double by Wilmer Flores and a Jose Reyes.
Oliver Perez took over with runners on first and third and no one out and got a weak liner to short off of Curtis Granderson's bat for the first out of the frame.
Blake Treinen came out and got a 4-6-3 DP out of Juan Lagares to end the threat. Still 3-1 Nationals.
Jonathan Papelbon took the ball in the ninth with a two-run lead and retired the Mets in order to end it. Ballgame. 3-1 Nationals final.
Nationals now 52-36
NATS NOTES:
- New York's win last night left them 7-1 so far on what is an 11-game homestand in Citi Field and 7-3 in their last 10 games overall.
- During the 7-1 streak at home, the Mets have outscored their opponents 55-31, hitting 22 home runs over that stretch in which their hitters have a combined .313 AVG (86 for 275).
- The Mets were also 9-1 in their last 10 games in NY after beating the Nationals last night, though there were just 4-6 against Washington on the year and 8-16 against the Nats in Citi Field since 2014.
- In today's Nationals-themed "Fun with Arbitrary End Points" segment: Washington and New York were even at 82-82 before the start of the 2014 season in their all-time seriese, but since then the Nationals are 29-19 against the Mets.
- Even with the loss last night, the Nationals (51-36) still have the 3rd-best record in the NL, behind only the Giants (54-33) and the Cubs (52-33).
- In today's Mets-themed "Fun with Arbitrary End Points" segment: Mets' starter Noah Syndergaard took the mound tonight (7-1) with a 2.30 ERA and 74 Ks in 62 ⅔ IP... since May 11th.
- In his last 38 ⅔ IP in Citi Field before tonight, Syndergaard had allowed a total of 5 ER (1.16 ERA).
- Nationals' starter Stephen Strasburg took the mound tonight with a 14-start winning streak, trailing only General Crowder (15-straight, 1932-33) and Firpo Marberry (17-straight in 1930-31) for the longest winning streak in D.C. baseball history.
- Mets' closer Jeurys Familia earned his 31st save of the season last night, and extended his streak of converted save opportunities to 47-straight overall.
- The five combined home runs in the fourth inning of last night's game (3 for the Nats, 2 for the Mets) tied a major league record for combined home runs in an inning.
- Mets' hitters continued a streak of games with home runs last night, stretching it to 10-straight, over which they've hit a total of 22 home runs.
- Since June 1st, Nationals' hitters lead all NL teams with a .808 OPS and a .342 OBP and they were ranked second in runs scored (184) over that stretch and second in HRs with 52, and walks (118).
Nationals now 52-36