The Mets beat the Nationals, 2-0, on Thursday afternoon in Washington, D.C. on Opening Day >> Box score
Seven things to know about Thursday's game...
1) Jacob deGrom struggled with his location in the first inning, but settled in and was his usual dominant self -- striking out 10 batters over 6.0 scoreless innings while allowing five hits and walking one. He struck out the side twice, and escaped a jam in the sixth inning after Trea Turner had reached first base with one out by striking out Juan Soto on a filthy 88 MPH changeup (below) and getting Ryan Zimmerman to fly out on what was his 93rd and final pitch of the game. DeGrom's fastball topped out at 98 MPH and his slider reached as high as 92 MPH.
That's filth. pic.twitter.com/Ivdg659s97
- SNY (@SNYtv) March 28, 2019
2) By tossing his 30th consecutive start where he allowed three or fewer runs, deGrom passed Jake Arrieta for the longest such streak in MLB history.
3) Robinson Cano hit a solo homer off Max Scherzer in what was his first Mets at-bat, becoming the first Mets player to do so since Mike Jacobs in 2005. With two on and two out in the eighth inning, Cano lined an RBI single off LHP Matt Grace to extend the Mets' lead to 2-0.
4) Seth Lugo relieved deGrom to start the seventh inning and struck out the side -- getting Yan Gomes and Brian Dozier swinging, before punching out Scherzer looking.
5) Jeurys Familia hit a batter but tossed a scoreless eighth inning, and Edwin Diaz turned in a perfect inning in the ninth to earn his first Mets save and seal the win.
6) Pete Alonso went 0-for-3 against Scherzer with a pair of strikeouts, but notched his first career big league hit in the eighth inning -- a single to center field off RHP Justin Miler.
7) Leading 2-0, the Mets made a pair of defensive changes before the bottom the eighth inning -- inserting Dominic Smith for Alonso at first base (after Smith pinch-hit, walked, and scored in the top half of the frame), and putting Keon Broxton in right field in place of Michael Conforto.
Highlights
Video: 1st Home Run as a Met for Robinson Cano
Video: Jacob deGrom strikes out the side in 2nd inning
Video: Mets end threat in 3rd with clutch double play
Video: Jacob deGrom strikes out 10
Video: Pete Alonso hits first MLB single in 8th inning
What's Next
The Mets are off on Friday.
They face the Nationals on Saturday at Nationals Park at 1:05 p.m., when RHP Noah Syndergaard opposes RHP Stephen Strasburg.