Conforto’s two HRs power Mets past Nats
WASHINGTON >> The New York Mets wobbled into Nationals Park this weekend with a six-game losing streak, beset by injuries and lined up to face Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and the team with the best record in the majors.
Two days later, things don’t look quite so bleak for the Mets. Washington, meanwhile, is now dealing with a big loss — center fielder Adam Eaton is out for the season with a knee injury.
Michael Conforto hit two home runs and slumping Jose Reyes also connected, leading the Mets over the Nationals 5-3 Saturday.
“It feels great because they’ve got a great club and they’re red hot,” Mets manager Terry Collins said.
“When you face arguably two of the best pitchers in the game two days in a row and come out with two wins, that’s huge for us,” he said.
After being swept at home by the Nationals last weekend the Mets have a chance to flip the script on Sunday and even the season series at three games apiece. Even though it’s still April, the importance of this series wasn’t lost on the Mets skipper.
“We know we’ve got a long track, we’ve got to try and get back in the hunt, and that’s what we’re trying to do, put some wins on the board and try and get back in this thing,” Collins said.
The Nationals will have to do without Eaton.
Less than a month into his first season with Washington, Eaton is sidelined for the year with a torn ligament in his left knee. Acquired from the White Sox in December, he was hitting .297 with 13 RBIs when he stepped awkwardly on first base while beating a throw Friday.
The person confirmed Eaton’s status to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, because the Nationals had not made public the severity of the injury. Fox Sports first reported Eaton’s season is done.
Hours before Eaton’s situation was known, the Nationals were steaming over a no-call involving a steal by Jayson Werth in the fourth inning.
Werth swiped second as Jose Lobaton struck out, and got up and tangled with shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera when the throw skipped away. Werth kept heading to third and was thrown out by a wide margin.
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Werth argued along with Washington manager Dusty Baker that he should’ve been awarded the base because of the block.
“I saw him point obstruction, and then he gave some jive explanation that really didn’t make sense to me,” Baker said of second base umpire Angel Hernandez.
Werth saw the same thing that his manager. When asked after the game about how an umpire can point and not get the bag, Werth responded: “You’re asking the wrong person at this point. I clearly don’t know the rule.”
A request to talk to the umpires was submitted too late to get comment. RANGERS 6, ANGELS 3 >> Carlos Gomez hit for the cycle for the second time and Yu Darvish pitched six effective innings, helping Texas beat Los Angeles.
Darvish (3-2) allowed one earned run, struck out 10 and walked four, finishing with 125 pitches. He fell five pitches short of his major league high, thrown as a rookie in 2013.
Gomez needed only four at-bats for his first cycle since May 7, 2008, with the Minnesota Twins. He doubled in the first inning, singled in the third and tripled in the fifth off starter Jesse Chavez (2-4). He hit a firstpitch fastball from Jose Valdez onto the hill behind center field in the seventh for a tworun homer. BRAVES 11, BREWERS 3 >> Matt Kemp homered three times and drove in five runs, powering the Braves to their fourth straight victory.
Atlanta collected a season-high 20 hits. Dansby Swanson also homered, and Jaime Garcia (1-1) pitched six innings for his first win with the Braves. YANKEES 12, ORIOLES 4 >> Brett Gardner homered twice from the leadoff spot, helping the Yankees earn their fourth straight victory.
Gardner collected his first four RBIs of the season. Austin Romine, the No. 9 batter, also went deep and knocked in five runs.
New York won for the 14th time in 17 games, boosting the American League’s best record to 15-7. Right-hander Michael Pineda (3-1) did not allow an earned run in 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight. CUBS 7, RED SOX 4 >> Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer, helping Chicago rebound from a series-opening loss at Boston.
Miguel Montero and Ben Zobrist each connected for a solo shot for the Cubs, who had dropped two in a row. Kris Bryant had two hits and scored twice. PIRATES 4, MARLINS 0 >> Ivan Nova pitched a three-hitter in Pittsburgh’s third straight win.
John Jaso homered and drove in runs for the Pirates, and Jordy Mercer knocked in a run. WHITE SOX 6, TIGERS 4 >> Melky Cabrera led off the 10th inning with a homer against Justin Wilson and Avisail Garcia added an RBI triple, lifting the White Sox to their sixth straight win. two also INDIANS 4, MARINERS 3 >> Danny Salazar got off to a rocky start, and then combined with two Cleveland relievers to hold Seattle hitless over the final eight innings.
Salazar (2-2) gave up a double to Robinson Cano in the first, followed by homers on successive pitches to Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager. ATHLETICS 2, ASTROS 1 >> Khris Davis clubbed his 10th home run to back a solid start by Andrew Triggs, and Oakland snapped a five-game skid.
The Athletics ended a 10-game losing streak against the Astros, which was the longest in franchise history against Houston. BLUE JAYS 4, RAYS 1 >> Justin Smoak had three hits, including a two-run homer, and the Blue Jays snapped a three-game losing streak.