Losing streak, what losing streak? The New York Mets continued their winning ways on Tuesday night with a 6-4 victory over the Washington Nationals to kick off a three-game series in our nation's capital. Terry Collins' crew have now followed up a dreadful 2-12 stretch with five straight wins.
Chris Young was sharp in his first start since being activated from the disabled list both with his arm and his bat. In the second inning, Young surprised everyone -- including Nats first baseman Adam LaRoche and all of New York -- with a safety squeeze to score Ike Davis to put the Mets up 2-0.
Young, on a strict pitch count, left after just 4 2/3 innings but outside of two mammoth blasts from Washington catcher
Wilson Ramos, the tall righty didn't show any ill effects of the biceps tendonitis that kept him sidelined since April 10.
After Young, pitching in a 3-3 game, put the go-ahead run on third base, Ryota Igarashi came on to strike out Jayson Werth and end the threat.
Jason Bay and Davis chased Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann in the sixth with back-to-back singles, but it was the man calling the shots for the New York pitching staff that came up with the biggest play of the night for the Mets. Lefty Doug Slaten came in to face Josh Thole, who ripped the second pitch he saw for a double that put New York up 5-3.
Taylor Bucholz pitched a perfect two innings of relieve to continue his fantastic season and while Jason Isringhausen allowed one run while struggling through the eighth, Francisco Rodriguez closed the door in the ninth for his fifth save.
These two teams will go at it again on Wednesday night when R.A. Dickey faces Tom Gorzelanny at 7:05 PM.