WASHINGTON — David Peterson attacked the strike zone hard and was effective with his pitches Tuesday, coming within one out of the holy grail for Mets starting pitchers this season.
Mets starters had pitched seven or more innings only four times in 60 games. Peterson retired C.J. Abrams with two outs in the seventh inning, but with two runners on base and Nationals right-hander Lane Thomas scheduled to pitch, manager Carlos Mendoza replaced Abrams.
With Peterson out and Dedniel Nunez getting the final out, the Mets avoided a late-inning relief collapse with a 6-3 victory at Nationals Park.
Peterson, making his second start since coming off the injured list, was the driving force.
The left-hander allowed five hits, two walks, two strikeouts and two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings, throwing 81 pitches before leaving the game.
The Mets (26-35) have won two straight games and will be looking to win three straight games for the first time since April 15-17 when they host the Pirates on Wednesday.
The key for Peterson tonight was getting ahead in the count, as he threw his first pitch for strikes to 10 of the first 13 batters he faced.
Harrison Bader’s two-run homer against DJ Hurts in the fourth inning was the first run of the game.
Starling Marte walked to lead off the inning, and then Bader hit his third home run of the season over the left field fence with one out.
The Mets stretched their lead to 4-0 in the fifth inning on a two-run triple by Marte, and they quickly built up a lead.
Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo each singled to start the inning, then Marte hit a ball down the first base line that sailed off the side wall and sprinted to third base for his second triple in five games.
The ensuing sacrifice fly by Mark Vientos gave the Mets a 5-0 lead.
Peterson didn’t allow a second hit until Jesse Winker’s leadoff single in the fifth inning. Jacob Young singled for a run with two outs to put the Nationals within 5-1.
Vientos raced to the foul line to stop a Nick Senzel grounder in the sixth inning, then threw from his knees to catch Senzel at first base.
Peterson walked Joey Meneses before Senzel and then got out of the inning by striking out Ildemaro Vargas.
The Nationals got a run in the seventh inning, cutting the Mets’ lead to 5–2.
Joey Gallo hit a grounder to first base and the ball flew into shallow right field for a one-run single. Winker was hit by a pitch in the top of the inning and stole second base. He was tagged out at first base on the play, but Peterson threw a low pitch to Alonso.
Alonso scored the Mets’ final run in the ninth inning with a 446-foot home run to left field. It was his 14th career homer at Nationals Park and his 14th of the season.
In the bottom of the ninth, Young’s one-run single against Reid Garrett with two outs cut the Mets’ lead to 6-3.
The Nationals had a runner on base with two outs, but Garrett struck out Thomas to end the game.
