Mets Afternoon News: Amazins split double dip, Gary takes a break

Meet the Mets

New York came very close to sweeping a doubleheader in Washington on Sunday, but the depleted squad came up just short. In Game 1, the Mets blew a 5-0 lead only to be put over the top by an Amed Rosario home run in the eighth inning.

Game 2 saw Brandon Nimmo give New York the lead in the sixth inning with his first home run of the season, but the Nationals rallied back in the bottom of the frame thanks to back-to-back bases-loaded walks by Hansel Robles and Chasen Bradford. The home team would hold on to win 5-4.

Choose your recap, Game 1: Amazin’ Avenue short and long, AP, MLB.com, Daily News, NJ.com

Choose your recap, Game 2: Amazin’ Avenue short and long, AP, MLB.com, Daily News, NJ.com

Choose your recap, combined: New York Post, Newsday, Bergen Record

Seth Lugo looked sharp in his return to the rotation, and Matt Harvey could be the next Mets starter to come off the disabled list.

Gary Cohen is off this week, so WOR’s Wayne Randazzo will take over the SNY play-by-play from Cincinnati.

No matter how you feel about Tim Tebow, he has been a business success, helping the St. Lucie Mets set an attendance record.

Around the NL East

Giancarlo Stanton hit his 50th home run of the season to propel Miami to a sweep over San Diego.

It’s not as sexy as Stanton chasing the home run record, but Ichiro has a chance to set the single-season mark for pinch hits.

During Philadelphia’s 6-3 win over the Cubs, Rhys Hoskins hit a home run for the fifth straight game. The Good Phight gives us some background on MLB’s latest phenomenon.

The Braves were shut out 3-0 by Jon Gray and Colorado.

Washington’s Anthony Rendon paid homage to his hometown of Houston with his Players’ Weekend cleats.

Around the Majors

The tragedy left in the wake of Hurricane Harvey is obviously bigger than any baseball story right now. Click here to find out how you can help out Houston.

The disaster could force the Astros to play their upcoming series against Texas at Tampa Bay’s Tropicana Field. Their next series against our Mets might be moved to Citi Field.

The Dodgers just lost two in a row to Milwaukee, but they could be getting their ace back soon. Clayton Kershaw worked five innings in a rehab game over the weekend.

This date in Mets history

In 1989, Frank Viola led the Mets to a win over Orel Hershisher and the Dodgers in a battle of reigning Cy Young Award winners.