Mets visit Nationals, seek to extend modest win streak
The Mets will look to continue to flex their muscles on Wednesday night when they vie to win their three-game series against the host Washington Nationals.
Every game is key for the Mets, who have only a one-game lead as they hold the final wild-card spot in the National League.
Mark Vientos hit a three-run homer in New York's 7-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday in the Little League Classic. He added a two-run shot on Tuesday to highlight a five-run third inning in the Mets' 8-1 series-opening romp over the Nationals.
Vientos is batting just .232 with nine homers and 38 RBIs in 85 games this season. Those numbers, however, are far off of last year's totals of a .266 average, 27 homers and 71 RBIs.
"He was an important player for us last year (and is) not having the season he anticipated or we anticipated, but we need him now and he's going to continue to get opportunities and he's a big part of this team," New York manager Carlos Mendoza said of Vientos, per Newsday.
"It's been hard, especially when we go four, five days and he's not in the lineup. He's not going to be happy. He wants to be out there but, as much as you try to communicate with them, they want to play. But this is where we're at, and I feel like he's responding well."
Vientos wasn't alone in responding on Tuesday. Brett Baty went deep to lead off the sixth inning, Juan Soto followed suit in the seventh, and Jeff McNeil added a solo shot in the ninth.
McNeil also had a two-run double in the third as part of his second three-hit performance of the season. He is 8-for-17 with six runs during his four-game hitting streak.
"I feel really good. I feel like I've been seeing the ball really well the last few games," McNeil told SNY. "I've got some good pitches to hit and (hit) some of them."
New York's Kodai Senga (7-4, 2.35 ERA) will square off against Washington rookie Brad Lord (3-6, 3.26) on Wednesday in a battle of right-handers.
Senga is seeking to snap a six-start winless drought since returning from the injured list following a strained right hamstring. He received his fifth no-decision in that span despite allowing two runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Atlanta Braves in his team's 4-3 loss on Thursday.
Senga's last win came on June 12 in a 4-3 victory against Washington. The 32-year-old Japan native yielded one hit over 5 2/3 scoreless innings in that game and boasts a 1-1 record with a 1.99 ERA in four career appearances (all starts) vs. the Nationals.
Lord, 25, is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two appearances (one start) against the Mets this season. Washington's Dylan Crews ripped a triple and scored his team's lone run on Tuesday. He has scored one run in three straight games.
Andres Chaparro had two of Washington's five hits in the series opener. Unfortunately for the Nationals, they couldn't solve Mets starter David Peterson for the second time in as many meetings this season.
"It seems like he's definitely got something figured out against us," Washington's Paul DeJong said, per MASN. "We'll have to let this one marinate, and when we see him again, hopefully in New York (in September), we'll have a better approach."
--Field Level Media
--Field Level Media
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