Game Recap: Juan Lagares’ Double Lifts Mets To 4-3 Victory Over Nationals

On Friday evening, Los Mets hosted the Washington Nationals for Game 2 of their 4-game weekend series.  Making his 20th start of the season, Dillon Gee took the mound at Citi Field, and was opposed by Washington’s Gio Gonzalez.

The Mets jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the 1st.  But, Washington chipped away until they tied the game in the top of the 5th.

Sep 12, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets left fielder

Jr. (22) scores a run in front of Washington Nationals catcher

(40) on a double by New York Mets center fielder

(not pictured) during the fifth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Then in the bottom of the frame, Juan Lagares‘ double put the Mets ahead again for good.

Jenrry Mejia closed out the 4-3 victory with his 26th save of the season.

Mets Starting Lineup:

1) Eric Young-LF; 2) Juan Lagares-CF; 3) Eric Campbell-3B; 4) Lucas Duda-1B; 5) Travis d’Arnaud-C; 6) Curtis Granderson-RF; 7) Dilson Herrera-2B; 8) Ruben Tejada-SS; 9) Dillon Gee-SP.

Game Recap:

Dillon Gee‘s first pitch of the ball game to Nationals lead-off batter Denard Span was a fastball down the middle, taken for strike one.  Span lined out to Dilson Herrera at second.  With 2-outs, third baseman Anthony Rendon stroked Washington’s first hit of the evening.  First baseman Adam LaRoche then drew a walk.  Shortstop Ian Desmond smoked a grounder to Eric Campbell at third, who threw to second for a force.

Southpaw Gio Gonzalez‘ first pitch of the night to Mets lead-off batter Eric Young Jr. was lashed to center field for a base hit.  On an 0-2 pitch, Gio Gonzalez struck Juan Lagares with a high and tight fastball.  A fly to center by Eric Campbell failed to advance Young to third.  With 1-out, Lucas Duda drew a walk to load the bases.  Travis d’Arnaud then hooked a double into the left field corner.  Young and Lagares scored.  Lucas Duda also scored when catcher Wilson Ramos (E-2) failed to hold on to a relay throw to the plate.

Dillon Gee escaped trouble in the 2nd when Juan Lagares and Travis d’Arnaud committed a pair of errors.

Anthony Rendon opened the 3rd with a double, and a single by Adam LaRoche made it a 3-1 game.  Ian Desmond stroked the Nats third consecutive hit.  With runners on second and third, Bryce Harper grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.  But a single up the middle by Wilson Ramos scored LaRoche to make it a 3-2 game.

• Through 3 innings Dillon Gee allowed 2 earned runs on 6 hits, walked 1 and fanned 1.  He threw 57 pitches with 36 (63%) going for strikes.

Curtis Granderson led-off the bottom of the 4th with a bloop double into a Bermuda triangle behind short, but the Mets could not convert.

Anthony Rendon kept up his personal assault on Dillon Gee in the top of the 5th, with a game tying home run off the orange line on top of the left field wall.

Eric Young led-off the bottom of the 5th with a single.  Juan Lagares then pulled a double into the left field corner that scored Young from first and gave the Mets a 4-3 lead.  With 2-outs and Lagares on third, Travis d’Arnaud fanned.

With 1-out and runners on first and second in the top of the 6th, Dillon Gee was relieved by Carlos Torres.  The Mets escaped this jam when Asdrubal Cabrera bounced into an inning ending 4-6-3 double play.

• Dillon Gee pitched 5.1 innings, allowed 3 earned runs on 9 hits and 2 walks.  He fanned 4.  Dillon threw 108 pitches with 71 (65%) going for strikes.  He exited on the winning side.  His ERA rose slightly from 3.71, to a 3.80 mark.

Jeurys Familia entered the game in relief of Carlos Torres in the 8th.

In the 9th, Washington put the potential go-ahead run on base, but Jenrry Mejia closed out a scoreless frame to complete the Mets 4-3 victory over the Nationals.

Scoring Summary:

• Bottom 1st inning – Eric Young hit a lead-off single.  Juan Lagares was hit by a pitch.  Lucas Duda walked to load the bases.  Travis d’Arnaud’s double scored Young and Lagares.  Duda also scored on the play on an E-2 by Wilson Ramos.

• Top 3rd inning – Anthony Rendon led-off with a double to left.  Adam LaRoche singled to score Rendon.  Ian Desmond stroked the Nats third straight hit. With 2-outs and LaRoche on third, Wilson Ramos singled to make it a 3-2 game.

• Top 5th inning – Anthony Rendon, home run.

• Bottom 5th inning- Eric Young hit a lead-off single.  Juan Lagares’s double scored Young.  Mets retake lead 4-3.

• Final Score: Nationals 3; METS 4

Highlights:

• Jenrry Mejia earned his 26th save of the season.  Dillon Gee improved his record to 7-7.  Gee gave up a season high 9 hits.

• Los Mets turned 3 double plays.

Next:

9/13 Saturday, 7:10pm, Game Three – Nationals @ METS

Doug Fister (13-6) vs. Zack Wheeler (10-9)