It rained runs (and, actually rain) in the Mets’ finale against the Nationals

The Mets closed out the season series against the Nationals with a win this afternoon in Washington, 8-6. With the Nationals mathematically eliminated with yesterday’s win, the Mets took the series three games to one, and completed their road games for the season.

The day started off with back to back singles by Amed Rosario and Jeff McNeil. After an one-out double steal put both runners in scoring position. A Jay Bruce sacrifice fly put the Mets on the board with their first run.

Steven Matz started for the Mets, and has had better starts. In the first two innings, Matz kept the Nationals off the board. He gave up a hit in each of the first two runs and walked one in the first. In the third, the wheels came off for Matz, when he allowed five straight base runners to reach.

Victor Robles led the third off with a solo home run, tying the game. Then, Trea Turner walked and came around to score on a Bryce Harper double. An Anthony Rendon single and a Mark Reynolds walk loaded the bases, and Rendon scored when Matz walked Spencer Kieboom with the bases loaded.

Between the high pitch count and the poor weather, Matz would be pulled after the third inning. The Mets responded instantly, with Todd Frazier leading off with a double against Nats’ starter Erick Fedde. Fedde allowed Kevin Plawecki to move Frazier to third with a fly out, and then he walked Jose Reyes to put men on the corners.

Relief pitcher Wander Suero relieved Fedde, and walked Rosario to load the bases. McNeil singled in Frazier, and then Michael Conforto hit hsi first triple of the season, clearing the bases and putting the Mets up 5-3.

Drew Gagnoon was first out of the Mets’ bullpen, and went two innings, giving up just one baserunner, a walk to Trea Turner, which was quickly erased by Gagnon picking him off first base.

In the fifth, doubles by Dom Smith and Plawecki and a single by Rosario, led to two more runs. One inning later, a Bruce double, a pair of walks, and a Plawecki ground out put the final Mets’ run of the day up, putting them up 8-3.

Paul Sewald and Drew Smith pitched scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh, but in the eight, Smith’s second inning of work led to a near Washington comeback. Smith gave up four straight hits, including a two-run triple by Robles and a Turner double that put them down 8-6. Jerry Blevins and Anthony Swarzak combined for a scoreless inning and two thirds to close out the game.

The Mets have a day off tomorrow, before returning to Citi Field for the final homestand of the season. Noah Syndergaard starts against the Braves, taking on Touki Toussaint.

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What’s WPA?

Big winners: Michael Conforto, +25.0% WPA, Anthony Swarzak, +21.9% WPA, Jeff McNeil, +18.6% WPA, Amed Rosario, +14.5% WPA, Drew Gagnon, +10.4% WPA
Big losers: Drew Smith, -23.4% WPA, Steven Matz, -18.0% WPA, Brandon Nimmo, -15.7% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Michael Conforto’s fourth inning triple, +26.2% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Victor Robles’s solo home run in the third inning, -11.7% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: +1.4% WPA
Total batter WPA: +48.6% WPA
GWRBI!: Amed Rosario