Iglesias’ Clutch Hit Helps Lift Mets Above .500

Jose Iglesias hit a tie-breaking, two-run single, Brandon Nimmo homered for the third straight game for the first time in his career and the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 6-2 Wednesday at Citi Field. The Mets (46-45) have won four of five and beaten the Nats (42-51) seven out of nine times this season.

In his final start before the All-Star break, Luis Severino (6-3) went 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four. The bullpen, a source of inconsistency and frustration of late, finished the job without any drama. Jake Diekman, Danny Young and José Buttó combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Buttó got four outs to earn his first career save.

Nationals starter Patrick Corbin (1-9) entered the game with a 5.49 ERA, last in the majors of 68 qualified starters, but he held the Mets at bay through five innings, surrendering his only run on a Nimmo solo homer in the first, his 16th. But he hit a bump in the sixth.

J.D. Martinez and Pete Alonso hit back-to-back singles and Mark Vientos doubled in a run to tie the game at 2, chasing Corbin. Derek Law entered, and after walking Francisco Alvarez, he gave up the go-ahead single to Iglesias, and the Mets led 4-2. The Mets added another run when Harrison Bader grounded into a fielder’s choice and the throw to first went into foul territory, allowing Iglesias to score from second with a slide just ahead of the tag at home.

Fundies, good and bad, were on display in the fourth inning. Severino failed to back up home and it cost the Mets a run. Just a half-inning later (of course), Corbin didn’t make the same mistake.

With two outs and runners at first and second for Washington, Juan Yepez singled to right. Tyrone Taylor came up firing, but his throw was offline, to the left of Alvarez. Severino, who should have been backing up the play, was near the pitcher’s mound. With no one to back up the errant throw, two runs scored instead of one.

With two outs and runners at first and second for the Mets, Iglesias singled to right. Lane Thomas came up firing, but his throw bounced off the glove of Keibert Ruiz. But Corbin was there to back it up and the Mets runners had to hold. With the bases loaded and two outs, Corbin struck out Taylor to end the inning.

(Severino, incredibly, failed to back up home a second time in the fourth inning, but that did not lead to any scoring.)

Nimmo’s homer gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Taylor added an RBI triple in the eighth, his second consecutive game with a three-bagger.

Stat of the Game

Of 62 pitchers who have made at least 25 starts against the Mets, Corbin had the worst ERA at 5.01 entering Wednesday. He is now 8-13 in 29 starts vs. New York. Corbin surrendered four earned runs on eight hits in five innings.

Player of the Game

Iglesias was 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, two RBIs and the go-ahead hit. He is hitting .329/.365/.457 overall and 10-for-19 with 14 RBIs when batting with runners in scoring position.

On Deck

David Peterson (3-0, 3.58 ERA) will try to guide the Mets to the sweep in a 1:10 p.m. ET start at Citi Field. Lefty MacKenzie Gore (6-7, 3.83 ERA) goes for the Nationals. The game will air on SNY and MLB Network. The Mets will enter the day only half a game out of a Wild Card spot.

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