METSGAMEDAY

GAME 92: July 13, 2018 Where: Citi Field

Considering he hadn’t started a major-league game in seven weeks, this was a solid return for Noah Syndergaard.

Having last pitched on May 25 because of a strained finger ligament, Syndergaard allowed one run in five innings and earned the win Friday in the Mets’ 4-2 victory over the Nationals in Flushing.

Syndergaard wasn’t his sharpest in surrendering seven hits and two walks while striking out three, but worked his way out of trouble on multiple occasions. He threw 75 pitches; Mickey Callaway said before the game Syndergaard wouldn’t be pushed beyond 80-85 pitches.

The flame-throwing right-hander had his trademark zip from the get-go, touching 99 MPH on his first pitch and consistently hitting the high 90s.

He was efficient early with 21 pitches through two innings, but he threw that many in a third inning that began with a bizarre triple by Nats pitcher Tanner Roark. The ball bounced on top of the padding on the fence down the right-field line, past Brandon Nimmo, allowing Roark to reach third. Wilmer Difo promptly drove in Roark with a double.

Syndergaard walked the first two batters in the fourth, but got the next three out. He was aided by an inning-ending double play in the fifth by Bryce Harper, who dogged it to first base instead of trying to beat out the throw.