Mets snap 5-game skid with 5-3 win over Nationals
NEW YORK (AP) — Amed Rosario and Pete Alonso homered in the first inning as the New York Mets, after learning embattled manager Mickey Callaway is staying around, broke out of their offensive funk a bit to beat the Washington Nationals 5-3 on Monday night.
Carlos Gómez cracked an RBI double off the wall for his first Mets hit in 12 years, and slumping Todd Frazier had a run-scoring single to help New York (21-25) stop a five-game losing streak. After the Mets built a 4-0 lead in the third, fill-in starter Wilmer Font and five relievers held off the rival Nationals in the opener of a four-game series.
Anthony Rendon homered again and Yan Gomes had three hits for Washington, including an RBI single.
Patrick Corbin (4-2) was tagged for four runs and six hits over five innings. The $140 million lefty, who has faced the Mets four times in 10 starts this season, struck out 11 in a 5-1 victory against them at home last Wednesday.
Pinch-hitter Dominic Smith delivered a two-out RBI single in the eighth on the first pitch from left-hander Tony Sipp, who came off the injured list earlier in the day.
Font, starting in place of injured Jason Vargas, lasted four innings before Drew Gagnon (2-0) tossed two hitless innings. Edwin Díaz pitched out of trouble in a scoreless ninth for his 11th save.
Before the game, with questions intensifying about Callaway’s job security early in his second season as skipper, the Mets held a meeting with players and coaches to declare support for the staff.
“Mickey is our manager now. Mickey is our manager going forward,” general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said at a news conference attended by chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon.
“We’re not looking to blame a manager,” the GM added. “He has our full support to lead this team for the foreseeable future.”
New York had lost 21 of 32 overall and was swept in three games at lowly Miami over the weekend, totaling only three hits in consecutive shutouts Saturday and Sunday.
Six batters into this one, the Mets had matched that number.
Rosario’s homer to straightaway center field on Corbin’s fourth pitch, an 0-2 fastball, snapped a 19-inning scoreless stretch. Alonso hit the 15th long ball of his rookie season two batters later.
TROUBLE BREWING
A camera caught Frazier and Washington outfielder Adam Eaton jawing at each other from a distance between innings before each was led away. The two were teammates with the White Sox and apparently have an acrimonious history.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals: Sipp was reinstated from the 10-day IL after missing 11 games with a strained oblique. The team also designated LHP Dan Jennings for assignment and claimed RHP Javy Guerra off waivers from Toronto. The Nationals hope Guerra will join them on Tuesday. … 1B Matt Adams (strained left shoulder) took strong swings, manager Dave Martinez said. … 1B Ryan Zimmerman (plantar fascitis) felt less sore than he expected after running Sunday, according to Martinez. Zimmerman was scheduled to do some baseball activities Monday.
Mets: Right-handed reliever Seth Lugo was placed on the 10-day IL with tendinitis in his pitching shoulder. The team selected the contract of left-hander Héctor Santiago from Triple-A Syracuse and transferred infielder Jed Lowrie to the 60-day IL. … Van Wagenen said OF Michael Conforto, on the seven-day concussion list, has been symptom-free for three days.
UP NEXT
Nationals: RHP Erick Fedde (0-0, 3.38 ERA) is scheduled to make his first start of the season Tuesday night after five relief appearances. Fedde will pitch in place of injured starter Aníbal Sánchez.
Mets: Zack Wheeler (3-3, 4.85) tries to rebound from a 7-6 loss in Washington last Thursday, when he gave up a career-high 11 hits over six innings. Wheeler is 4-10 with a 5.27 ERA in 16 starts against the Nationals, including 0-2 with a 9.77 ERA in three outings this year.
