WASHINGTON — Dedniel Nunez is becoming more reliable in the Mets bullpen by the day.
The fireball right-hander was given the key position Tuesday to end the seventh inning with the tying run on the board after David Peterson was removed.
Nunez struck out Lane Thomas to end the threat, then pitched another perfect eighth inning as the Mets beat the Nationals, 6-3.
“In that moment, I just said, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna beat you,'” Nunez said through a translator about striking out Thomas with a 97 mph fastball.
It was Nunez’s fourth straight appearance without allowing an earned run since being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.
During that time, he struck out nine batters in 5 1/3 innings.
His rise coincided with slumps among veteran pitchers Adam Ottavino, Reid Garrett and Jake Diekman.
Edwin Diaz also struggled with a right shoulder injury before landing on the disabled list last week.
“[Nunez’s] “From the dugout, his pitches look heavy across the board,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “You can see it in the way hitters are swinging at his pitches.”
The 27-year-old Nunez is happy with the bigger stakes pitching opportunity.
“I, [Mendoza] “At this point, he’s kind of giving me the pat on the back,” Nunez said, “It’s kind of a next level of trust, but the energy that the team is showing on the field puts me in a position to go out there and help the team in any way that I can.”
Jose Iglesias started at second base for the second straight game, while struggling Jeff McNeil was benched to face left-handed starter DJ Hurts.
Iglesias had three hits and was 1-for-4 at-bats.
“That’s just one thing. Iglesias played a good game. [Monday]”McNeil is still our second baseman. We need Jeff McNeil to become the player he’s capable of to get to where we want to be,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza declined to say whether he plans to return McNeil to the lineup for Wednesday’s series finale. The Nationals plan to start left-hander Patrick Corbin for the third straight game.
In a rehab game, Francisco Alvarez pitched the full nine innings for the first no-hitter in Brooklyn Cyclones history. Dakota Hawkins, Joey Lancellotti and Joshua Corniely all pitched the no-hitter in a 3-0 win over Aberdeen.
The Mets expect Alvarez to return from the disabled list next week.
Mendoza said Diaz will throw 21 bullpen pitches and is likely to pitch in a minor league game on Thursday.
The right-hander is expected to return from the disabled list next week.
