Harper hit two doubles and became the latest player to swipe a base against Syndergaard, helping A.J. Cole post his first major league win as the Nationals beat the New York Mets 4-1 Friday night.
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Friday against the Nationals, Syndergaard did just that, but his teammates couldn’t back him.
Syndergaard has given up 45 stolen bases this season, the most a pitcher has allowed in a single year since Hideo Nomo allowed 52 steals in 2001.
Syndergaard (12-8) gave up just three hits in seven innings and retired his final 10 batters.
The game was still 2-1 heading into the ninth, when Jerry Blevins gave up consecutive hits to Daniel Murphy and Harper to put runners at second and third and no out.
But Gsellman and Lugo have combined to go 3-2 with a 2.96 ERA in their last five appearances (four starts) dating back to August 19, which has Mets manager Terry Collins confident they are up to the task of keeping NY in the race. In the fourth, Harper doubled with one out, stole third and scored on Ramos single. He has allowed two hits in each of his last two turns while yielding a total of one run in 15 frames. Cole picked up his first big league win by limiting the Mets to just one run on three hits in six innings of work while walking two and striking out five. Then, in the fourth, Asdrubal Cabrera led off the inning with a solo shot to right center. He’s also reached base safely in 21 straight games. Earlier this week, he wrote on Twitter and said on video that he wasn’t a fan of fans doing the wave. The Mets are 7-2 in their last 9 home games and the over is 13-4 in their last 17 overall while going 13-4 in their last 17 on grass.
The U.S. Open is being held right across the street from Citi Field, and Harper said he didn’t play tennis as a kid growing up in Las Vegas.
“The one thing – and I know it was on his mind – with their lineup, when you got [Jayson Werth] and all of a sudden here comes Murphy and Harper, you better worry about getting them out of it’s going to be 2-0 in a hurry”, Collins said. But even a few years ago, tennis had a hand in his development, sort of. “They’re hard to square up with a bat, harder than a baseball”. “It’s whether or not you are able to replace those guys and guys can step in and fill in until they get back. Made for a lot of frustrating swings”.
The Mets went 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base. Reyes and Ramos watched it spin into the dirt for several seconds.
But an elbow injury suffered by All-Star Stephen Strasburg created an opening for Cole, who has pitched the last three turns in the rotation usually occupied by Strasberg, who threw a bullpen session on Friday. Mets LHP Steven Matz (shoulder) is expected to resume throwing Monday at the team’s spring training complex in Florida. The Nationals go with Tanner Roark for the game two start at the Mets on Saturday.
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Matt Harvey will not return this season after undergoing surgery for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, and Steven Matz is now on the disabled list with left shoulder tightness. Among those in attendance will be Laurie Hernandez, who won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic women’s gymnastics team and will throw out the first ball.
