On Wednesday in Major League Baseball activity from Nationals Park, the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals will be wrapping up their series. He made his debut as a reliever after Latos left Monday’s game and threw three scoreless innings. T.J. Rivera flew out to end the inning and the threat.
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Washington Nationals starting pitcher Mat Latos (38), throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets in Washington, Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. Harper’s been playing better lately, but the Mets would much rather face him than Murphy with the way this season has gone. The seven shutout innings he twirled facing the New York Mets lowered his season ERA to 2.75. Not surprisingly and maybe a tad too late, the Mets announced after the game that Montero will not be making any more starts for them this year and probably for forever. “It happens”, manager Dusty Baker said of slumps.
Rivera homered off Mark Melancon on an 0-2 pitch shortly after Jeurys Familia blew a two-run lead in the ninth.
Anthony Rizzo hit a pair of home runs and Jon Lester pitched eight dominant innings as the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-0 on Wednesday to clinch a playoff berth. Murphy led off with an infield single, and third baseman Jose Reyes threw Bryce Harper’s grounder into the seats. The move backfired as Rendon then delivered his 18th homer of the season to put Washington ahead 6-1.
Familia would get Ryan Zimmerman to line out and then got a double play on a line drive hit by Clint Robinson, killing the rally. Washington inked Murphy to a three-year, $37.5 million free agent contract just before Christmas of last year. “He’s tough in there and to be able to grind out at-bats like that and turn 3-1 into 3-3 is a good inning for us”. Syndergaard has allowed only three runs in his last 27 innings and even when he’s been off, he’s managed to hold off any serious damage. Roark (15-8) gave up three hits with seven strikeouts and four walks as he went seven scoreless innings for the ninth time this year, the most in the majors. Rzepczynski has yielded four hits and three walks in 8 1/3 innings since joining the Nationals.
Mets: Infielder Wilmer Flores missed his second straight game with a stiff neck.
Up next: The Nats are off Thursday before moving on to Atlanta to play the Braves.
Mets: LHP Steven Matz (left shoulder tightness), on the disabled list retroactive to August 15, felt “fine” throwing a 20-pitch bullpen session for Single-A Port St. Lucie, Mets manager Terry Collins said. Wilson Ramos is sitting on 136 hits with 54 runs, 20 homers and 77 RBI.
Manager Terry Collins was not sure who would start the next time Montero’s turn comes up, but he ruled out giving the right-hander another opportunity. Zimmerman entered the night 1 for 8 lifetime against Syndergaard and went 1 for 3 against him.
Trea Turner #7 of the Washington Nationals is tagged out trying to steal second base in the first inning by Asdrubal Cabrera #13 of the New York Mets at Nationals Park on September 14, 2016 in Washington.
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Baker has been with the Nationals for every inning this year and has not been ejected, though he came close late in the game Tuesday when he argued a possible strikeout by one of the NY hitters. Including his latest effort, Roark now ranks fifth among National League starters in ERA (2.76), fourth in innings (193.1), and tied for fourth in wins (15).
