N.Y. Mets: Thor Lowers Hammer on Max Scherzer and the Nationals

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

ROOSEVELT AVENUE RUMBLE

Mets lead series 1-0

I - NYM 2; WAS 0

II - WEDNESDAY

GAME TWO

Washington Nationals

SP-Gio Gonzalez

vs.

New York Mets

SP-Bartolo Colon

NEW YORK METS: Noah Syndergaard out-duels Nationals veteran ace Max Scherzer in series opening main event.

Noah Syndergaard to Addison Reed to Jeurys Familia ...

A Curtis Granderson lead-off home run, and done.

That's how the defending N.L. champs took the series opener over the Washington Nationals and closed within one-half game of first place.

As Howie Rose would say - Put it in the books!

Noah Syndergaard, 23, dominated the first place Nationals for seven scoreless innings.  He faced 24 batters, and threw 102 pitches with a very efficient 72 (70.5%) going for strikes.  He surrendered just five hits, walked none, and fanned 10 batters.  This was his second double-digit strikeout performance of the season, and the seventh of his career.

The victory improved his record to 4-2 this season, and lowered his ERA down from 2.53 to a 2.19 mark.  His WHIP likewise dropped to 0.99 for the season.  Thor has now surrendered 41 hits in 53.1 innings pitched, with just nine walks, and 65 strikeouts.

It's easy to overlook the man has only made a mere 32 career MLB starts.  He did not debut for the Mets until May 12, 2015, against the Cubs in Chicago.  He took the loss in that game, but he's been lowing the hammer on N.L. opponents ever since.  To date, he boasts a 13-9 record, with a 2.96 ERA, and 1.044 WHIP, over just 103.1 career innings pitched.

Addison Reed was all business as well, throwing eight pitches with seven going for strikes, en route to fanning a pair during his lone inning of work.

Jeurys Familia closed the door in the ninth for his 13th save, recording the final out of the game against Bryce Harper.

The Mets line-up was opposed by Max Scherzer, who was fresh off a 20-strikeout performance against the Detroit Tigers.  Appropriately then, former Tiger Curtis Granderson homered off Scherzer leading off the game.  But little did Washington know they lost the game right then.

The young buck, Michael Conforto, gave the Mets an insurance run with a solo shot in the sixth, and their ultimate 2-0 margin over the Nats.  It was Conforto's sixth home run, and 21st RBI of the season.

That makes 30 strikeouts for Max Scherzer in his last 15.1 innings pitched.

Washington's Max Scherzer lasted 6.1 innings, allowed two earned runs on just three hits and three walks, but matched Syndergaard with ten strikeouts despite the loss.

Bryce Harper went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.

The Washington Nationals have now lost three in a row.