Mesoraco returns to catch for Jake

WASHINGTON — Jacob deGrom had a gift waiting for him behind home plate as he walked to the mound to face the Nationals on Friday.

His favorite catcher was back.

Devin Mesoraco, who had been sidelined for the previous 2 ½ weeks with a bulging disk in his back, returned behind the plate, perhaps an extra boost for the righthander in his pursuit of the NL Cy Young Award.

DeGrom allowed one earned run over seven innings in the Mets’ 4-2 victory over the Nationals. And Mesoraco not only handled deGrom, but delivered two doubles as part of a 3-for-3 performance at the plate.

“I throw the ball well to him I feel every time he’s been out there,” deGrom said. “It’s nice having him behind the plate and we were sitting on the same page almost all night and he did a good job out there.”

What makes the partnership solid?

“I am sure that [deGrom] knows that Devin is very prepared,” manager Mickey Callaway said. “I think that Devin likes that they are on the same page a lot with the pitches they want to throw to the hitters and it’s kind of a good team, so when you have success you want to stick with what’s working.”

Callaway cited the performances of Amed Rosario and Jeff McNeil, particularly, in the team’s improved offensive production in recent weeks.

Rosario has gone 27-for-82 (.329) in September. The rookie McNeil is 64for-195 (.328) since his major league debut on July 27.

“I think what we have found is there is not one way to win,” Callaway said. “It’s solely based on who that personnel is at that time and you have to adjust. Going into a season you have a certain outlook and what you try to do and you have to make adjustments along the way.

“You can’t hit homers without home run hitters, so you have got to score a different way. We have done a good job of adjusting and doing that.”