March 28, 2019 – Mets 2, Nats 0 – Nationals Park

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mets-vs-nationals/2019/03/28/565895#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=565895

 

Weather: 56 degrees, Partly Cloudy.

Wind: 3 mph, R to L.

Umpires: HP--Miller, 1B--Eddings, 2B--Torres, 3B--Conroy.

Time: 2:44

Attendance: 42,263

 

Section 112, Row TT, Seats 14-15 – lower level, somewhat beyond 3B, near the top of the section.

 

Although Scherzer was dominating for most of his 7.2-inning performance, allowing only 2 hits and fanning 12, the Nationals failed to take advantage of their opportunities against Jacob deGrom, and managed only one baserunner in the final 3 innings against the New York bullpen. 2018 Cy Young winner deGrom and runner-up Scherzer did make some history by becoming only the second pair of opposing pitchers to each notch double-digit strikeouts on Opening Day.

 

In a game where every run was likely to be precious, Max fanned the first two Mets he faced, but missed his spot on a changeup to Robinson Cano, who knocked it into the seats in left-center. Over the next 6 innings, however, he allowed only 3 more baserunners, none of whom got as far as second base. With the Nats still trailing by a run, Martinez raised some eyebrows by allowing him to hit for himself with two out and none on in the bottom of the seventh, his pitch count into the 90s. In the top of the 8^th, he sandwiched a walk to Dominic Smith between two more Ks, which proved costly when Justin Miller and Matt Grace allowed consecutive singles to Pete Alonso and Cano, respectively, to score what proved to be the final run of the afternoon.

 

The Nats had some bad luck in the bottom of the first, when Zimmerman lined a shot right at the third baseman with 2 on and 2 out. Two innings later, they had their best scoring chance of the afternoon when Victor Robles led off with a double and went to third on a single by Eaton. Turner, who had singled and stolen second two innings earlier, fanned on a high fastball. Rendon hit a relatively slow grounder to third, but Robles was indecisive on the basepaths, getting caught between third and home to retire the side after the Mets got the force at second.

 

Washington’s final chance came in the bottom of the 6^th. Turner got his second single of the game and reached third via two steals with one out, but Soto fanned and Zim flied out to right.

 

Our Metro trips were uneventful, albeit packed, in both directions. Armed with coupons, we descended upon the nearby Subway, which proved prescient given the lengthy and slow-moving concession lines inside the park.