Nido homers twice as Mets beat Nationals, 8-2
New York — Tomas Nido had his first two-homer game as a professional, hitting a two-run shot in the fourth inning and a grand slam in the fifth to lead the New York Mets to an 8-2 win over the Washington Nationals and a split of the four-game series.
Nido, who entered Thursday with five homers and 26 RBIs over 93 games in parts of four big league seasons, is just the fifth catcher in Mets history to hit at least two homers and collect at least six RBIs in a game. Hall of Famers Gary Carter and Mike Piazza did it twice apiece and Todd Hundley and Paul Lo Duca once each.
Nido struck out in the seventh as he tried to match Carter, the only Mets catcher with a three-homer game.
"Hard work pays off," Nido said. "I did work really hard this offseason and it just feels good to be able to help the team win."
Dominic Smith homered in the second and Pete Alonso had an RBI single in the eighth for the Mets, who were relieved to learn their second straight victory wasn't as costly it first appeared it could have been.
Left fielder Jeff McNeil was carted off after crashing into the wall while robbing Asdrubal Cabrera of a tworun extra-base hit to end the first inning.
Manager Luis Rojas said afterward that X-rays and an MRI on McNeil's left knee were negative and that the All-Star is day-to-day with a bone bruise.
"When I got out there with the trainer, we were a little concerned just how he was talking to us," Rojas said of McNeil, who covered his eyes with his hands after he fell and flung his glove.
McNeil's catch cost the Nationals the chance to put up a crooked number against rookie David Peterson (31), who allowed Washington to load the bases with no outs. Trea Turner walked and went to third when Nido fielded Adam Eaton's bunt and threw the ball into center field. Starlin Castro walked before Peterson struck out hot-hitting Juan Soto and retired Howie Kendrick on a run-scoring comebacker to bring up Cabrera.
Peterson allowed only the unearned run over five innings and gave up just one hit — Yan Gomes' single leading off the fifth. The rookie southpaw walked two, struck out three and retired 11 of 12 before Gomes' hit. Peterson was lifted after 74 pitches due to some routine shoulder soreness, but said he wasn't concerned.
Jared Hughes, Edwin Diaz and Brad Brach combined to finish the five-hitter.
Soto capped a sensational series by homering in the sixth. He was 7 for 15 with four homers and eight RBIs in the four-game set.
Austin Voth (0-2) took the loss after allowing three runs while throwing 86 pitches over four innings. He has thrown five innings or fewer in all three starts this season.
"Eighty-seven pitches in four innings — that's a lot," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "We've got to get him through five or six innings."
On-base machines
Mets leadoff batter Brandon Nimmo doubled in the first inning to extend his on-base streak to a career-high 34 games. It's tied for the third-longest streak in team history with Alonso (2019) and Carlos Delgado (2007-08) . ... Michael Conforto walked in the third and has reached base in a career-high 21 straight games dating to the 2019 season finale.
Hello, I must be going
Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg, scheduled to start Friday despite still dealing with a nerve issue in his right hand, was ejected from the stands for arguing balls and strikes in the third inning.
Strasburg, sitting in Section 121 at Citi Field in this socially distant season, was apparently unhappy with the strike zone of home plate umpire Carlos Torres after Voth's 2-2 pitch to Alonso on the outside corner was ruled a ball.
Moments later, Torres ejected
Strasburg, though it took a few seconds to realize who had been tossed. Someone was heard yelling, "You're (expletive) brutal" shortly before television cameras captured Strasburg doffing his cap as he walked up the staircase on his way out of the park.
"I thought the umpire threw me out of the game, so I was kind of heated up," Martinez said. "(Strasburg) got thrown out as a fan. I love Stephen. I can't tell you what he said, but I love him."
The usually stoic Strasburg appeared to be grinning underneath his blue mask as he made his exit.
Trainer's room
Mets: SS Amed Rosario (stomach) missed his third straight game . ... 2B Robinson Cano (left groin) played another simulated game Wednesday, but couldn't work out on the field before Thursday's game because the tarp was on in anticipation of morning rains. The Mets are hopeful he can return when eligible Friday.