METS GAMEDAY

The performance the Mets put on in Flushing Saturday as day turned to night has been so few and far between this season that it was almost hard to believe.

It can be this simple sometimes, even for a team that has struggled as much as the Mets have: good starting pitching and defense, early lead, break the game open. It was a winning formula for the Mets, at least until Mickey Callaway left Zack Wheeler in too long in the eighth and he gave up a two-run homer to Matt Adams. But it proved inconsequential in the Mets’ 7-4 victory over Washington.

If the Mets (39-54) manage to win Sunday afternoon and take the four-game set, it’ll be the first time they’ve won a series since May 18-20 when they swept Arizona at home. The Mets have either lost or tied their last 15 series.

Wheeler, whose days as a Met could be numbered with the trade deadline looming, was strong through seven innings, allowing just one run before Callaway tried to get him through the eighth. He gave up two singles to start the eighth before Anthony Rendon’s fielder’s choice. Wheeler struck out Bryce Harper before Adams’ home run ended his day.

He finished with four runs allowed in 7.1 innings, surrendering eight hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Four straight singles, a sac fly and an RBI groundout put the Mets up 3-0 in the second. Michael Conforto hit a three-run homer in the fifth, which was followed by an RBI single by Jose Reyes to put the Mets up 7-0.

The Mets won consecutive games for just the second time since June 18.