David Peterson delivers complete-game shutout in Mets' win over Nationals

The Mets extended their winning streak to five games on Wednesday night, as a masterful performance from David Peterson helped them defeat the division-rival Nationals, 5-0, at Citi Field.

Here are the takeaways…

— Pete Alonso entered the game with MLB’s fourth-highest slugging percentage (.589), and he wasted no time in raising that mark. Showing off some impressive upper-body strength, he punched a two-out, first-inning double to center off Nats starter Jake Irvin that somehow one-hopped the wall and drove in Brandon Nimmo from first to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. It was Alonso’s league-best 63rd RBI of the season — his 20th just this month — and 39th extra-base hit.

— The Mets inflicted further damage on Irvin in the third. After a one-out double to right from Francisco Lindor — his 12th of the season — Juan Soto launched a two-out, two-run homer to right-center to bump their lead to 3-0. The towering 408-foot blast from Soto extended his on-base streak to 13 games and raised his OPS to .854. He’s also smacked five homers in his last 11 games.

— Nimmo became the third Met to go yard in the fifth, when he took an Irvin changeup deep to left-center to push the lead to 4-0. He then belted another in the seventh, a solo shot to right off reliever Jackson Rutledge, to make the score 5-0. The long balls marked Nimmo’s second multi-homer game of the season — his first came against the Nats back on April 28, when he delivered a whopping nine RBI in Washington, D.C.

— Much to the Mets’ delight, Peterson didn’t break much of a sweat on the mound. The left-hander faced the minimum through the first three innings, throwing a career-low 32 pitches across those frames, and allowed just two hits through six scoreless. He quickly found himself in a seventh-inning jam after allowing back-to-back singles, but rallied to retire the side by fanning two and inducing a groundout.

— With a five-run cushion and an economic pitch count, Peterson returned for the eighth… and nearly lost the shutout bid. After a one-out double from Luis Garcia Jr., a single to center from Jacob Young produced a bang-bang play at the plate that required an umpire review for catcher’s interference on Luis Torrens. Luckily for the Mets, the tag from Torrens came just before Garcia touched home, and the initial ruling of an out was confirmed by a dramatic replay, and interference was disregarded. Peterson then induced a flyout, becoming the first Met to complete eight innings this season.

— The Mets kept Peterson in for the ninth, and he made light work of the Nats. He induced a lineout from Amed Rosario, a strikeout from James Wood, and a groundout from Andres Chaparro. After the final out, Peterson received a rousing ovation from the crowd, hugs from several teammates, and a surprise Gatorade bath from Sean Manaea and Tyrone Taylor while speaking to SNY’s Steve Gelbs near the dugout. It was the Mets’ first shutout from a lefty since Steven Matz in 2019.

Game MVP: David Peterson… who else?

Even those who dig the long ball above all else couldn’t dispute Peterson’s worthiness for this accolade. He threw nine scoreless innings, striking out six and allowing six hits. His season ERA is now 2.49. He’s gone seven-plus frames in three of his last four outings.

Highlights

What’s next

The Mets (44-24) will look to sweep the Nationals on Thursday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 p.m. on SNY.

Kodai Senga (6-3, 1.59 ERA) is slated to take the mound in the matinee, opposite veteran Mike Soroka (3-3, 4.86 ERA).

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