File photo/TheNYExtra.com
The Mets got to the ballpark in DC knowing that JD Martinez and Brandon Nimmo would be missing from the starting lineup due to injuries and once the game started, Harrison Bader had the leave the game for precautionary reasons after crashing into the outfield forcing Brandon Nimmo to play despite recovering from a fainting spell in his hotel 2 nights ago.
The team fell behind 2-0 but Sean Manea kept the team in the game with seven innings of two-run ball. Francisco Lindor crushed a solo homer to make it 2-1 and Brandon Nimmo got a game tying hit to make it a 2-2 game. Jose Butto gave the Mets 2 scoreless innings and much like Monday night, The Mets saved their biggest inning for the extra frame.
Jose Iglesias had yet another tremendous at bat stroking an RBI double that gave the Mets the lead for good. Brandon Nimmo and Mark Vientos followed with RBI hits and then Pete Alonso crushed a homer to put the game away. And it was yet another extra inning win that put the team 1 game over the 500 mark.
Some observations about this Met team. We sometimes overuse the word resilient but it is the best description I can find about this team. They scratch and claw their way back in games and make the opponent pay for every single mistake they make to put games in the win column night after night. The second observation I have is about Brandon Nimmo whom I feel is the most underrated player in the entire sport.
He gets big hit after big hit, hustles every single moment he is on the field and cares far more about the name on the front of his uniform than he does for the name on back of his uniform. Some of the “so called” baseball experts in this town scoffed when the Mets signed him to a long term contract but the truth of the matter is that he is worth every penny he earns. Why you ask? Because he absolutely hates it when the team loses and every off-season he works on his game to enhance his baseball IQ.
He is an absolute All-Star and should he not be selected, that would be a travesty for a second straight season. He wa a big reason the Mets turned their season around in June and he has certainly gotten July off to a good start as well.
The Mets will try to make it 3 in a row here in DC giving top Met prospect Christian Scott the ball. The Amazins have dominated the Nats this year taking 5 straight from them this year and will try to continue that trend in DC later tonight.
