Amed Rosario hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning and the New York Mets, after blowing a five-run lead, cut down the potential tying run at the plate for the final out of a 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals in the first game of a day-night doubleheader Sunday.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and pitcher Edwin Jackson pinch-running at first base, ex-Met Daniel Murphy sent a sharp grounder into right-center field for a double. When rookie right fielder Travis Taijeron booted the ball, Jackson was waved around third.
Gold Glove center fielder Juan Lagares, quickly backing up Taijeron, grabbed the ball and threw to second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera, who relayed a strike to catcher Travis d’Arnaud at the plate in time to get Jackson as he made a headfirst slide.
Rosario fell behind in the count 0-2 against Joe Blanton (2-3) with two outs in the eighth before launching a solo shot to center for the rookie’s fourth home run.
Cabrera hit a three-run homer in the first and Wilmer Flores added a two-run shot in the third (his career-high 17th) to stake New York to an early 5-0 lead.
A.J. Ramos pitched out of trouble in the eighth and worked two innings for his 25th save in 27 chances.
Alejandro De Aza had a triple, double and two RBIs for the Nationals, who left 13 runners on.
With the Nationals trailing 5-3, Ryan Zimmerman and Matt Wieters singled off Paul Sewald with one out in the seventh and Michael A. Taylor’s double scored Zimmerman to make it 5-4. Jerry Blevins (6-0) came on to face De Aza, whose sacrifice fly to left scored Wieters.
New York lefty Tommy Milone made second start since a long stint on the disabled list due to a left knee sprain. He held the Nationals scoreless through four inning, but allowed a run in the fifth before Hansel Robles came on to strike out Anthony Rendon and Zimmerman, both looking, with two on.
The Nationals pulled within two in the sixth on De Aza’s RBI double and Howie Kendrick’s sacrifice fly.
Washington starter Erik Fedde, recalled from Triple-A Syracuse as the 26th man for the doubleheader, gave up five runs and seven hits over six innings. He threw 112 pitches, striking out five and walking two.
Mets right-hander Matt Harvey (shoulder) tossed 4 2/3 innings in a rehab start Saturday for Double-A Binghamton at Portland, allowing five runs (three earned) and five hits. He struck out two, walked one and threw 47 of 72 pitches for strikes. “Yeah, we’re hoping his next one is a start with us,” manager Terry Collins said.
Mets right-hander Seth Lugo (right shoulder impingement) was activated from the disabled list in advance of his Sunday night start in the second game of the twinbill. Righty Noah Syndergaard (torn lat muscle) is expected to throw batting practice again Wednesday in Florida.
Nationals infielder Adrian Sanchez was sent to the hospital for a CT scan Saturday night after being hit in the chest with a pitch while attempting to bunt in the eighth inning Saturday. A team spokesman said Sanchez checked out fine, was kept overnight to monitor his breathing, and discharged. . Zimmerman (triceps muscle) was in the lineup after missing two games.
Nationals righty Tanner Roark (10-8, 4.46 ERA) starts the night game of the split doubleheader. He is 6-2 with a 2.61 career ERA versus the Mets. Lugo (5-3, 4.85 ERA) is 1-2 with a 4.35 ERA against the Nationals.
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