Nimmo hits bases-clearing double to spark 5-run fifth as Mets beat slumping Nationals 7-0

Brandon Nimmo New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo hits a three run scoring double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Thursday, July 11, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
David Peterson New York Mets pitcher David Peterson throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Thursday, July 11, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
MacKenzie Gore Washington Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Thursday, July 11, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Harrison Bader New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader makes a leaping catch on a fly out by Washington Nationals' Trey Lipscomb during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 11, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
MacKenzie Gore Washington Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Thursday, July 11, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Brandon Nimmo New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo scores in front of Washington Nationals catcher Riley Adams during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 11, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
CJ Abrams Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams watches as New York Mets first base Pete Alonso catches his pop-out during the seventh inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 11, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Riley Adams Washington Nationals' Riley Adams reacts after striking out during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Thursday, July 11, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Harrison Bader New York Mets' Harrison Bader hits a run-scoring single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Thursday, July 11, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
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NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon Nimmo hit a bases-clearing double to spark a five-run fifth inning, David Peterson threw six scoreless innings and the New York Mets moved into playoff position with a 7-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday, completing a three-game sweep.

J.D. Martinez and Pete Alonso added RBI singles as the Mets moved two games over .500 for the first time since April 24. Mark Vientos and Harrison Bader had RBI singles in the eighth and New York (47-45) moved one percentage point (.511) ahead of San Diego into the NL’s third wild-card spot.

“It’s been a complete total team effort and I’m really, really proud of these guys because on a daily basis, you never know who’s going to come through,” Nimmo said.

New York also completed its seventh sweep this season and is 25-12 since being swept by the Dodgers in a doubleheader on May 29 that necessitated a players-only meeting.

“I don’t think we’re looking at the standings,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “I think we’re just making sure we take care of business day in and day out. Obviously what went through the month of May and how far back we got, to be able get to this position is a good feeling.”

Peterson (4-0) allowed four hits and worked out of trouble at times while combining with four relievers on New York’s first shutout of the season. Peterson struck out five and walked three.

The Mets were held hitless until Martinez doubled in the fourth. Consecutive walks to Jeff McNeil and Francisco Lindor in the fifth loaded the bases for Nimmo, who was denied a double by rookie left fielder James Wood in the first.

No one got near his bases-clearing big hit. He lined a 96.6 fastball off Washington starter MacKenzie Gore (6-8) to the warning track in left-center field between Wood and center fielder Lane Thomas.

“Gore’s an amazing pitcher,” Nimmo said. “We have a lot of respect for him around here and we know that he can go a long ways without us putting runs on him. We have to be relentless. So the goal for us is just to keep trying to push on the dam until it finally breaks and so we were able to do that today.”

Nimmo’s double gave him a major league-best 30 RBIs since June 14 and during that span, he is batting .348.

“We have a really good player here that is performing at a high level,” Mendoza said.

Nimmo scored on a headfirst slide on Martinez’s double off Dylan Floro. The Mets took a 5-0 lead when Martinez scored before Alonso was thrown out at second attempting to stretch his hit into a double.

Gore allowed four runs and three hits in 4 2/3 innings.

The Nationals dropped their fifth straight and lost for the 16th time in 23 games to fall a season-high 10 games under .500. Washington also was blanked for the 10th time.

Washington stranded 13 and went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Before the Mets went ahead, the Nationals left two on in the first, second and fifth and also left the bases loaded in the eighth and ninth.

“We had our chances,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “We just couldn’t score any runs. The at-bats just got to get better.”

WELCOME TO NEW YORK

Phil Maton struck out two in a 1-2-3 seventh after in his debut being acquired from Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Maton did not throw a pitch over 88.8 mph and became the 30th pitcher to appear for the Mets this season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: RHP Reed Garrett (elbow inflammation) will be sidelined two to four weeks after multiple doctors examined his MRI and determined there was not any ligament damage. “To get the news that we got is huge,” Garrett said. “I’m pumped and happy that nothing’s wrong. really. Obviously we have some stuff that we can clean up but I’m happy that everything’s OK.” … RHP Kodai Senga (right shoulder) will throw 60 to 65 pitches in his next rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Syracuse.

UP NEXT

Nationals: Jackson Rutledge (0-0, 9.00 ERA) will make his first start of the season against RHP Freddy Peralta (6-4, 3.95) in the opener of a three-game series Friday in Milwaukee.

Mets: LHP Sean Manaea (5-3, 3.43) faces Colorado RHP Tanner Gordon (0-1, 7.11) in the opener of a three-game series Friday.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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