The Mets kicked of their 2022 campaign with a series at home against the Washington Nationals. Two teams headed in different directions. The Mets went out and spent money on Scherzer, Canha, Marte, and Escobar with hopes to bring the World Series trophy back to Queens. The Nationals are in a rebuilding mode despite having one of the best talents in the world in Juan Soto. Despite Soto the Nationals are considered the worst team in the NL East
Game 1- OPENING DAY
Opening day turned out to be a mix of what you would expect with a mix of a surprise. The game featured the best pitcher on the planet in Jacob deGrom against Patrick Corbin of the Nationals. The game started out as you would expect with deGrom striking out the side in the first inning and getting into a rhythm that would carry on for 7 strong innings. He would keep the batters off balance the entire game and finished with 7 innings of shutout baseball allowing only 2 hits, while walking 2 and striking out 10. What we did not see coming was Patrick Corbin. He looked every much the part of his 2019 form when the Nationals won the World Series and was dealing himself. Locking up the Mets with a good mix of pitches as he went 6 and two thirds allowing 3 hits, 4 walks, struck out 3 and kept the Mets scoreless as when both pitchers exited after 7 the score was 0-0. The Game would actually stay that way as both pens would dominate and it was apparent that all the bats were left in Florida as this game would remain 0-0 after 12. The 13th inning someone would finally break through as in the bottom of the inning with Canha starting a second base a first pitch single by Jeff McNeil got the Mets to first and third and nobody out. Tomas Nido who had come in late in the game for James McCann would send a 2-2 fastball to CF that Robles lined up and threw an absolute strike to home plate that Canha just beat out giving the Mets a walk off Sac Fly and the 1-0 victory in game 1
Final Score- Mets 1, Nationals 0 (13 Innings)
Nationals 0 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error
Mets 1 Run, 4 Hits, 0 Error
Game 2
Lots of excitement lead up to game 2 as the Mets hometown faithful got there first regular season look at newly acquired Max Scherzer who signed a huge 3-year deal in the off-season. Not a single seat was empty for this one as Citi Field was buzzing. That buzz would end very quickly though as Mad Max did not have his A game stuff on this afternoon. Two batters into the game he was already down 2-0 on a Juan Soto big fly which would be the first of a 3 home run huge day for Soto. Took him 42 pitches to get out of the first inning. After Stephen Strausburg shut them down quick Scherzer rebounded in the second but then in the top of the third he gave up an RBI single with two outs to Soto once again and it was 3-0 after three innings. the 4th would go no better for Mad Max as after pitching around Soto he got Cruz to strike out but then super prospect Keibert Ruiz took him deep for a 2 run shot and just like that it was 5-0 after 4 and Scherzer was out of the game. While not the start we had hoped for the Mets had some come back magic in the bats. In the bottom of the 5th down 5-0 the Mets finally started to get to Strausburg. After a couple bloop singles with 1 out Francisco Lindor hit an upper deck shot for a three run home run and quickly it was a 5-3 game. After Alonso struck out (Which he did the entire series more on that later) Eduardo Escobar hit a rope right down the line that cleared the wall and it was 5-4 after 5 innings. After a quick top of the 6th the Mets were back at the plate and facing the weak spot of the Nationals its bullpen which ranks 29 out of 30 in the league. And it showed. With two on and two out Brandon Nimmo would double into the gap off Austin Voth and the Mets came back from 5 runs down to take a 6-5 lead. That lead however would be short lived as in the top of the 7th the first pitch Juan Soto saw from Joely Rodriguez he hit for a bomb to center field and just like that we were tied 6-6 . Soto second home run of the game. But once again the bullpen would let the Nats down. In the bottom of the 7th with 2 on and one out Voth once again was victimized by long ball as he left a 3-1 pitch over the heart of the plate that Mark Cahna deposited into the left field stands for a 9-6 lead. two batters later with Sean Doolittle in Eduardo Escobar would hit his second home run of the game to CF and just like that after 7 it was 10-6 Mets lead. That would hold until the 9th when Trevor May would come in and ofc Juan Soto was not done as he would hit his THIRD homerun of the game to cut the lead to 10-7. Luckily for the Mets nobody else on the Nats was really hitting and the Mets would hold on to survive the 3 homer game from Soto and bad start from Scherzer for the 10-7 Win
Final Score- Mets 10, Nationals 7
Nationals- 7 runs, 12 hits, 1 error
Mets- 10 runs, 13 hits, 0 error
Game 3
The final game of the series saw Chris Bassit go up against Josiah Gray. And while the Mets would take advantage of the rebuilding Nats for the sweep it would come at a cost. Bassit was brilliant in this one mixing his off speed pitches and went a solid 6 scoreless innings. And while Gray was not to bad himself he did get bit by the long ball as the Mets got a solo shot from Canha in the second inning and a 2 run shot from Nido in the 4th and at the end of 6 the Mets had a 4-0 lead. That lead would hold until the 9th when Ruiz of the Nationals hit his second home run of the series a solo shot and cut the lead to 4-1 Mets but that would be all they would need for the sweep. The big news in this one however though was Eduardo Escobar who the Mets signed this off season for a 2 year deal worth 20 million got injured diving for a ball in the 6th inning and after the game they got the worse news you could want. They found out he tore his ACL and he is done for the season. Bad break for a guy who had hit 2 home runs already in three games.
Final Score- Mets 4, Nationals 1
Nationals 1 run, 6 hits, 0 error
Mets 4 runs, 6 hits, 0 error
Mets Moves
While the Mets have super prospect at 3B Brett Baty waiting in the wings they decided not to bring him up and will bring up Luis Guillmore to take the spot of Escobar for the moment while JD Davis will take over the starting role at 3B
Around The League
Braves News- The Braves were also hit with the injury bug as Eddie Rosario torn his MCL and he is also out for the season. The Braves Called up Drew Waters to take his place.
Marlins News- The Marlins signed free agent catcher Tommy James to a 1 year deal and released (1B) Lorenzo Quintana from the team to make room.
Undefeated- 4 teams ended the first series of the year undefeated. Mets 3-0, Braves 4-0, Padres 4-0, Mariners 4-0
Next up for the Mets (3-0) is a quick two game series against division rival the Atlanta Braves (4-0)
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