Games #99 & #100: Mets 11-1, Nationals 0-2

The Mets got themselves a glimpse of the future and enough offense to win both games. There was just the matter of spreading it out.

Jenrry Mejia returned to a dominating tune as Daniel Murphy and Juan Lagares backed him in an 11-0 thrashing of the Nationals in the afternoon game of the doubleheader. In the nightcap, Matt Harvey was his usual self but so was the New York offense, and Washington's Ryan Zimmerman clubbed a walk-off home run in the 9th to give the home team a 2-1 win and a split on the day.

The Good Stuff:

• Starting pitching was the story of the day, as Jenrry Mejia parlayed a spot start into a spot in a six-man rotation, putting up lucky sevens in innings, hits, and strikeouts, while planting zeroes in walks and runs.
• On the offensive side, Juan Lagares had three more hits and two more doubles, including an RBI and a rare walk, breaking the platoon to become the team's everyday center fielder.
• Streaky Daniel Murphy continued to swing a hot bat, smashing two home runs and driving in five in the first game and picking up two more hits in the second for a doubleheader total of 6-9.
• Ike Davis had himself a three-run homer in the 9th inning of game one, his first home run since returning from Las Vegas.
• In the second game, Matt Harvey was brilliant for eight innings, allowing an unearned run on five hits and a walk while striking out seven on just 99 pitches. In a world where the Mets score more runs, he might have had himself his first complete game.

The Bad Stuff:

• Try 1-9 with RISP and 10 men stranded on base in game two.
• LaTroy Hawkins gets the loss in the nightcap after Ryan Zimmerman's walk-off homer to right center.

Final Analysis:
We sometimes forget that Jenrry Mejia is just 23 years old because he's been around the organization for nearly 10 years. He's still considered a prospect, and if days like today become commonplace, it's another surplus in starting pitching for the Amazin's.

As for Juan Lagares, the man has proven himself to be a big-league hitter, and the Mets may finally have their outfield problem solved (for the year at least): a lineup of Eric Young in left, Lagares in center, and Marlon Byrd in right is nothing to thumb your nose at. The pieces are coming together, and the team has a record of 22-15 in the Nieu Year to show for it (although the hot streak's namesake, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, won't be joining the team further, as he was optioned to Vegas to make room for Mejia and the six-man rotation).

It was disappointing to outscore the other team 12-2 and still only win one game, but it was an exciting day nonetheless.

MM