(Photo by Laura Peebles)
For the Nationals, they won in a record setting way as Ryan Zimmerman got a first inning single which was his 1,695 hit that set the new mark for hits in the franchise. Every batter in the line-up had at least one-hit tonight which included substitute players and pinch-hitters. Tanner Roark pitched a very nice game going 7.0 innings giving up only 1-run in the game en route to a 24-5 crushing of the Mets. The Nationals scored 7-runs in the 1st inning and knocked out Mets starter Steven Matz after 2/3 of an inning. The Mets bullpen fared even worse.
These teams have to return very early tomorrow as the teams have a noon-time game scheduled tomorrow for this quick two-game series within 24-hours.
“It was a good win,” Daniel Murphy said. “Sleep fast and be ready for tomorrow.”
With the Nats offense powered by the “Mets killer”, Daniel Murphy, who hit two home runs in the game for a 3-hit night with 6-RBIs which raised his batting average to .287. The game didn’t start off well for Murphy who committed an error on the first batter of the game, and luckily that runner was erased quickly trying to steal second base. There were few negatives in this game, and that was one of only a few blemishes.
“We compete and don’t give in,” Roark said. “We keep going, keep grinding, keep winning.”
Every Nationals batter padded his stats as well as the pitchers, and the only casualty was reliever Shawn Kelley who gave up 3-runs in the 9th inning. He was visibly upset and spiked his glove on the mound after surrendering a home run. MASN’s F.P. Santangelo thought Kelley looked into the Nationals dugout after he picked up his glove from the dirt.
“It’s been an emotional day,” manager Dave Martinez said. “It was a good way to end it.”
The non-waiver trade deadline expired at 4pm today and it was a tense and stressful time. For the Nationals, they traded a popular player, Brandon Kintzler, and he appeared to be a numbers casualty as he turns 35 years old next year and would make a minimum of $5 million if he picked up his player option which was expected.
For the Mets, they were stressed, they brought in infielder Jose Reyes to pitch the 8th inning, and he was torched for 6-runs which gave him a 54.00 ERA.
