Schwarber Launches Three Dingers as Nationals Capture Series Victory
Jun 20, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) throws the ball during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Deja vu for New York on Sunday. Kyle Schwarber struck again, this time hitting three home runs and helping Washington secure a series victory with a 5-2 win.
New York followed up its series wins against the Padres and Cubs with a dud against the fourth-place Nationals. Losing three of four games, failing to score more than two runs in every loss.
Riding his high from Saturday night, Schwarber took the first strike he saw 418 feet to left center field off Mets’ starter Taijuan Walker. His second straight game with a lead off home run.
Swinging on the next pitch, Trea Turner lined out. Juan Soto doubled for the second extra-base hit of the first inning. Walker settled in to retire the next two batters and limit the damage.
Kevin Pillar gave the Mets the run back to start the second. His sixth home run this season traveled 384 feet to right center.
New York couldn’t build on it. Patrick Corbin struck out the following two batters with Luis Guillorme flying out to end the inning.
Walker found trouble again in the second. Back-to-back singles out two runners on with one out. Corbin attempted a sacrifice but the Mets snagged the lead runner Starlin Castro at third for the second out. Facing Schwarber again, Walker opened with a curveball. The 76 mile per hour pitch was chopped toward the Mount and leapt at by Walker. He fired to first for the final out.
The left-handed Corbin continued to stifle the Mets offense striking out two batters in the third.
Washington tacked on their second run in the third. The speedy Trea Turner singled up the middle and promptly stole second base. He came around to score on a Josh Bell single with one out. A 6-4-3 double play ended the inning.
James McCann’s strike out to end the third was the start of Corbin retiring 10 straight batters. The Mets went hitless with three strikeout in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.
Schwarber hit his second home run of the game off Walker in the fifth. His 17th of the season and fourth in two games. Prior to Sunday’s start, Walker allowed three home runs all season.
Corbin’s reign ended abruptly in the seventh. Corbin tested Pete Alonso with three sliders in a row. Alonso hit the Mets second home run of the afternoon and his 11th to pull New York within one. Corbin walked Pillar. He was pulled for right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan.
Luis Rojas opted to pinch hit starting left fielder Brandon Drury for Dominic Smith. Smith grounded into the shift for a double play. The Mets used their second bench bat of the inning with Billy McKinney entering for Albert Almora Jr. McKinney struck out looking at three straight strikes.
McKinney and Smith remained in the game. Smith went to left, McKinney to right, Pillar moved to center.
Walker started the seventh but didn’t finish it. Walker retired his first batter then allowed a double to a pinch-hitting Gerardo Parra. It was Parra’s first major league at-bat this season.
Jun 20, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Kyle Schwarber (12) runs to home plate after hitting a solo home run against the New York Mets in the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Jeurys Familia entered. His first batter was Schwarber. Schwarber hit another baseball over the fence. His third home run of the day, fifth in two days, 18th of the season. The Mets were down three runs to the Nationals and two runs to Schwarber.
Turner walked and Juan Soto singled before Familia got the second out. Turner and Soto executed a double steal to move to second and third. The former closer collected himself and struck out Bell and Yan Gomes to stop the damage.
Tanner Rainey entered for Finnegan in the eighth. Schwarber, tired from circling the bases, exited for Parra. Rainey struck out two batters. Pinch-hitter Jonathan Villar grounded out.
Villar remained for the bottom of the inning. Jose Peraza moved from third to second. Guillorme left for Drew Smith.
Smith struck out one and gave up a double in his lone inning.
Washington closer Brad Hand pitched the ninth facing Francisco Lindor, McCann, and Alonso. The Mets went down in order.
New York resumes with a 4:10 p.m. start against Atlanta tomorrow. Jacob deGrom is scheduled to start.
The post Schwarber Launches Three Dingers as Nationals Capture Series Victory first appeared on Metsmerized Online.