Mets 8, Nationals 4: Washington Blames Beltran and Ike for Mets Win

The Mets' starting pitchers have been far from perfect to start the season, but if the team can hit like it did tonight, they need not be spectacular in order for the team to win.

Chris Capuano's first start with the team was decent. Had it not been for the two home runs he allowed, it could have been great. Capuano struck out 8 while only issuing 1 walk in 6 innings but allowed 4 runs, all of which came via the long ball.

Luckily for the Mets, their bats showed up in a big way tonight. Carlos Beltran hit two home runs, the first of which gave the Mets a 2-0 lead. The second was a solo shot that tied the game at 3. After the Nationals regained the lead in the top of the 5th inning with a solo home run of their own, the Mets capitalized on a trademark play by the Nationals' outfield. Jerry Hairston Jr. flat out missed a line drive to left field off the bat of Beltran that put runners on 2nd and 3rd. Ike Davis drilled a triple to right-center field, bringing in both runners, and he scored on a single by Daniel Murphy. 

Jose Reyes added a pair of insurance runs on a bases-loaded, two-out double in the 8th inning after an awkward baserunning gaffe by Ike Davis. Davis was called out for interference on a ball hit up the middle by Josh Thole on which he pretty much stopped in the path of Ian Desmond, who was trying to field the ball. In addition to the insurance runs he provided, Reyes drew his first walk of the season.

The aforementioned insurance runs came in handy as Francisco Rodriguez made things interesting in the 9th inning before ultimately recording his first save of the season. Rodriguez had entered the game with two outs and runners on first and second base in the eighth inning and got an easy groundball out from Matt Stairs.

Like any baseball team, the Mets don't always take advantage of the other team's mistakes, but they did tonight. Their record now sits at 4-4, and they have the opportunity to win the series tomorrow afternoon at Citi Field.

K Counter by sparbz

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Win Probability Added

Big winners: Carlos Beltran, +53.2% WPA, Ike Davis, +27.5% WPA
Big losers: Chris Capuano, -22.4% WPA, Scott Hairston, -11.5% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Ike Davis triple in the sixth inning, +27.3% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Danny Espinosa home run in the second inning, -24.4% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: -9.7% WPA
Total batter WPA: +56.6% WPA
GWRBI!: Ike Davis

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Nice job by metman726; his effort in the game thread embiggens us all.