Brandon Nimmo homered and drove in three runs as the New York Mets kept their NL East hopes going for the moment, beating the Washington Nationals 4-2 Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader.
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_10168 New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run during the fourth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_03435 New York Mets fans, one wearing a paper bag over their head, watch as the Mets play the Washington Nationals during the first inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_90531 New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) reacts after the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. The Mets won 4-2. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_71418 New York Mets' Carlos Carrasco pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_78016 Washington Nationals' Cory Abbott pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_86913 The Washington Nationals play the New York Mets during the sixth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. The Mets won 4-2. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_17617 New York Mets' Francisco Lindor (12) celebrates with Brandon Nimmo (9) after the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. The Mets won 4-2. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_05213 New York Mets' Edwin Diaz pitches during the eighth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. The Mets won 4-2. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_93095 New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) reacts after the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. The Mets won 4-2. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_36625 New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo (9) celebrates with teammate Francisco Lindor (12) after hitting a home run during the fourth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_67291 New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_56388 New York Mets' Jeff McNeil, left, celebrates with Pete Alonso after hitting a home run during the first inning in the second baseball game of the team's doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_57658 New York Mets' Taijuan Walker pitches during the first inning in the second baseball game of the team's doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_19893 Washington Nationals' Paolo Espino pitches during the first inning in the second baseball game of the team's doubleheader against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_64505 New York Mets' Pete Alonso, right, slides past Washington Nationals catcher Tres Barrera to score on a sacrifice fly by Mark Canha during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_55059 Washington Nationals starting pitcher Paolo Espino, left, leaves during the first inning in the second baseball game of the team's doubleheader against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Nationals_Mets_Baseball_22226 Washington Nationals' Reed Garrett pitches during the first inning in the second baseball game of the team's doubleheader against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
NEW YORK (AP) — New York was eliminated from the NL East race even as Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeill opened with three straight homers to spark the Mets to an 8-0 win over the Washington Nationals and a sweep of a doubleheader on Tuesday night.
The Mets won the first game, 4-2.
The Braves were batting in the sixth with a 2-1 lead in Miami when the Mets started the second game with three straight homers for the first time in team history.
Atlanta closed out its fifth straight division title with the 2-1 win over the Marlins as the Mets finished batting in the fourth, A few groans could be heard from the crowd, who earlier were chanting “Let’s Go Marlins.”
The Mets will face either the Padres or Phillies in a best-of-three wild-card series starting Friday at home. The winner of that series will face the NL-best Dodgers in the Division Series starting Tuesday.
Despite the historic start to the nightcap, the Mets fell short in the NL East race after leading the division for 175 days and holding a 10 1/2 game lead on June 1. New York also had a seven-game edge on Aug. 10 – three days after taking four of five from Atlanta at home.
Brandon Nimmo homered and drove in three runs for New York Mets in the first game.
The Atlanta Braves began the day with a magic number of one for winning the division after sweeping a three-game series from the Mets over the weekend.
Nimmo homered on the second pitch from Paolo Espino (0-9), Lindor homered five pitches later by reaching the second deck in right as a dog retrieved the ball and McNeil connected to right three pitches later.
It was the first time the Mets hit three straight homers since Michael Conforto, James McCann and Jonathan Villar achieved the feat Aug. 7, 2021 in Philadelphia.
The doubleheader at Citi Field began in raw conditions in front of a sparse crowd that included a few dogs as part of a “Bark in the Park” promotion and endured rain for the final three innings.
METS PITCHING
Taijuan Walker finished two outs shy of qualifying for the win, allowing four hits in 4 1/3 innings in the second game. Walker struck out 10 for his third double-digit strikeout game this year and 12th of his career.
Stephen Nogosek (1-1) got six strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings for his first career win.
Carlos Carrasco allowed two runs on five hits in four-plus innings in the first game. Adam Ottavino (6-3) pitched 1 2/3 innings and Edwin Díaz got four outs for his 32nd save.
NATS NOTES
Riley Adams hit a two-run homer for Washington, which took two of three at the Mets last month.
The Nationals took their 105th loss and officially clinched the worst record in the NL.
“I look at the season as a disappointment,” general manager Mike Rizzo said before the game. “I’ve always said that you are what your record says you are, and our record says we’re the worst team in the league right now. And it’s hard to argue with that.
STRASBURG’S CLOUDY FORECAST
Rizzo said Stephen Strasburg’s status for 2023 is unknown after the right-hander was limited to one start due to a series of injuries.
“It’s still a little bit of a mystery,” Rizzo said. “I know that he’s working hard strengthening his core and the other parts of his body. We’re just going to have to see.”
The 34-year-old right-hander has thrown a total of 31 1/3 innings in eight starts over the past three seasons combined. He had carpal tunnel surgery in 2020, then needed an operation to correct thoracic outlet syndrome in 2021.
After his only start of 2022, Strasburg went back on the injured list with a stress reaction of the ribs.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: OF Starling Marte, who hasn’t played since Sept. 6 due to a broken right middle finger sustained when he hit by a pitch in Pittsburgh, is still experiencing discomfort. Manager Buck Showalter said Marte still can’t grip a bat but also did not declare him out for the opening round of the postseason.
UP NEXT
RHP Erick Fedde (6-12, 5.27) starts for Washington Wednesday afternoon. The Mets did not announce a starter.
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