Francisco Alvarez's home run lifts Mets to 2-0 win over Nationals

Francisco Alvarez‘s first home run of the season was enough for the Mets’ pitching staff, as New York shut out the Nationals, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon in Washington, D.C.

The start of Saturday’s game was delayed by about 25 minutes before a rain delay in the bottom of the first added another 46 minutes.

Here are the takeaways…

-It took the Mets seven innings to score against the Nationals on Friday, but New York didn’t waste much time on Saturday. After a two-out single by Jesse Winker, Francisco Alvarez — in just his second game off the IL — went the other way and deposited a Brad Lord slider just inside the right field foul pole to give the Mets an early 2-0 lead.

Alvarez finished with 1-for-3 with a strikeout.

-That Alvarez home run was all Clay Holmes needed on this day, but it was an inauspicious start for the reliever-turned-starter. After getting one out in the first, the heavens opened up and the game was delayed for a total of 46 minutes. Holmes returned to the mound and promptly got the next two batters out to finally complete the first frame. Holmes would settle in after that disrupted first inning, retiring nine straight Nats at one point.

Holmes was never in trouble, cruising through five scoreless innings. He probably could have gone longer, if it wasn’t for the long rain delay. The right-hander threw 70 pitches (44 strikes), allowing just four hits and no walks while striking out two. He lowered his ERA to 2.64.

It’s the 14th consecutive start a Mets starter hasn’t allowed a home run.

-The Mets’ bullpen was great after blowing the save on Friday. The combination of Danny Young and Reed Garrett pitched two scoreless innings before A.J. Minter came out to start the eighth. After getting the first out, Minter was in a 3-1 count to James Wood before he had to leave with an apparent injury. Similar to the series finale against the Phillies, Max Kranick was called upon to sub in on an injury. After walking Wood — which was charged to Minter — Kranick got the next two Nationals batters to get through the eighth.

Edwin Diaz returned for the ninth inning, his first appearance since leaving Wednesday’s game with a hip cramp. He struck out his first batter but threw five straight balls before Alvarez came out to talk to Diaz. Diaz came back to strike out Dylan Crews and Jose Tena to nail down the win.

–Jeff McNeil started in center for the first time this season, and it was his first time playing in that position since 2023. He played six innings in the field without much doing and was 1-for-3 at the plate. Tyrone Taylor took over at center in the seventh inning.

-The Mets had eight total hits and Francisco Lindor had three of them. It was his fifth three-hit game this season, tied for the most in MLB.

Game MVP: Francisco Alvarez

The whole pitching staff should be applauded, but Alvarez’s blast gave the Mets enough to come away with the win.

Highlights

What’s next

The Mets continue their series against the Nationals on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m.

Tylor Megill (3-2, 1.09 ERA) will be on the mound, opposite Nationals lefty Mitchell Parker (3-1, 1.39 ERA).

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