WASHINGTON – Francisco Alvarez’s first impact on this Mets lineup was felt on Saturday.
On a day when his team struggled to find all sorts of offensive rhythms, the catcher took over the responsibility of delivering a smash hit in the second game since returning from the injured list.
Alvarez’s 2-run homer served as the Mets’ offensive in a 2-0 victory over the Nationals.
The Mets won their eighth in nine games, rebounding after a seven-game winning streak snapped a night ago.
Luis Torrens successfully filled the catcher’s gap as Alvarez rehabilitated from the surgery to remove the broken Hamate bone from his left hand.
However, the skills Torrens brings defensively to that position stand out from most catchers, the 23-year-old Alvarez’s potential offensively.
Alvarez hit 25 homers as a rookie two years ago, two years before last season’s slanming. I probably compromised with an April surgery to repair my torn left thumb ligament.
Alvarez hit a two-run homer in two innings to give the Mets a 2-0 lead. Alvarez jumped from Blood Road to a high slider, sliced the shot inside a foul pole on the right field after Jesse Turnooker delivered a two-out single.
In his season debut in the evening, Alvarez went 4-4 at the plate, throwing out a runner trying to steal two bases.
The Mets (19-8) are concerned about another injury after AJ Minter left the mound in the eighth inning with discomfort. The left-hander got one in the innings as he worked for the second day in a row. Max Cranick had his final two outs before Edwin Diaz pitched for the first time since he left twitching Wednesday’s game.
Clay Holmes gave the Mets what they needed. He allowed four hits and hit two in five scoreless innings. The right-hander, who was removed after 70 pitches, lowered his ERA to 2.64.
Just as the Mets were able to go that far with Holmes was a bonus following a rain delay in the first innings. Holmes came back strong, 46 minutes between the pitch. He didn’t allow extra-based hits and completed the outing by retiring 10 of his 11 batters.
It was Holmes’ third start in straight sets. However, the Mets want an extra length from Holmes (which moved from rescuer to starter this season). Two of his last three starts, Holmes has only five innings in.
Danny Young hit three batters as part of the sixth scoreless sixth place before Reed Garrett scored the Mets for the seventh unharmed. Garrett allowed two singles in the innings, but with a united run at bass retired Dillancru and Josettena.
The Mets left two runners on base third against Lord, who retired Brandon Nemo for the final out after Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso singled in the innings.
Lindor hit with his fifth hit (the third single in the game) before Juan Soto retired with Squib before catcher. Soto went 4-4 on Friday to follow the two-hit performance. Jeff McNeill began the innings with a single, but Louis San Geraknya was grounded to double play before Lindor’s bunt single.
