Alonso, Acuña Power Mets to 10-1 Win Over Nationals 

The Mets (83-68)  took the series against the Nationals (68-83) with a statement 10-1 victory on Tuesday night at Citi Field, fueled by a strong outing from Tylor Megill and a five-RBI performance from Pete Alonso.

New York racked up 14 hits, including home runs from Alonso, Tyrone Taylor, and Luisangel Acuña. With the Braves’ loss to the Reds at the same time, the Mets now hold a two-game lead over Atlanta for the final NL Wild Card spot, with 11 games remaining in the regular season. With a Diamondbacks loss Tuesday night, the Mets would actually hold the second Wild Card spot.

Tylor Megill was dominant, tossing six innings with just one unearned run. He allowed only two hits, with two walks and four strikeouts, retiring 10 straight to close out his night. His ERA is now 4.08 on the season and an impressive 1.69 since rejoining the rotation.

Washington’s only run came in the third, when Jacob Young scored after a walk, an error, and a force-out at second. 

The Mets responded in the bottom of the third. Harrison Bader walked, and Luisangel Acuña recorded his first career MLB RBI with a double to tie the game. A José Iglesias single and Starling Marte walk loaded the bases for Alonso, who knocked in a two-RBI single. Mark Vientos added a sacrifice fly, putting the Mets ahead 4-1.

Francisco Alvarez extended the lead with a solo shot in the fourth for his ninth of the season. In the fifth, Alonso led off with a double and scored on a Taylor RBI double to make it 6-1.

In the sixth, Alonso broke the game wide open with a three-run homer on an 0-2 fastball, for his 33rd of the season. His five-RBI night ties him with Francisco Lindor for the team lead at 86 RBIs, stepping up while Lindor remains on the shelf with back tightness.

Luisangel Acuña capped off the evening for New York, solidifying a final 10-1 lead after notching his his first career home run in the eighth. It was a 414-foot blast that highlighted his 3-for-4 night at the plate.

Adam Ottavino worked a shaky seventh, loading the bases with a hit, walk, and hit-by-pitch, but escaped the jam unscathed with a strikeout. Huascar Brazobán followed with a scoreless eighth, and Alex Young sealed the win with a scoreless ninth.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Luisangel Acuña’s Citi Field debut didn’t disappoint. The 22-year-old went 3-for-4 with a double, homer, three runs and two RBI. That’s about all you can ask with Francisco Lindor out. 

ON DECK

Jose Quintana (9-9, 3.91 ERA) will start on the mound tomorrow as the Mets sweep the Nationals. Washington’s starter will be DJ Herz (4-7, 3.70 ERA). SNY will air the game at 7:10 p.m.

The post Alonso, Acuña Power Mets to 10-1 Win Over Nationals  appeared first on Metsmerized Online.