Quintana Tosses Gem to Complete Sweep of Nationals
The 2024 season is down to the wire. The Mets (84-68) came into Wednesday night’s matchup against the Nationals (68-84) eight games back of the National League East-leading Philadelphia Phillies (91-60). They also sat tied with the Diamondbacks in the wild card standings, along with only two games up on the Braves. With both clubs winning on Wednesday, the Mets needed to keep pace.
With every game counting, the Mets turned to Jose Quintana (9-9, 3.81 ERA) to try to claim the win and sweep for the Mets over DJ Herz (4-7, 3.98 ERA) and the Nationals.
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
After three innings of zeros across the board, the Mets struck big for nine runs in the fourth to take a 9-0 lead over the Nationals. With two on and no outs, Tyrone Taylor broke open the scoring with an RBI double to center field that scored Brandon Nimmo, followed by an RBI single by Mark Vientos that scored Pete Alonso and Taylor. Luisangel Acuña then stayed hot with an RBI single to left field that scored Vientos to make it a 4-0 game.
The Mets didn’t let up there. With bases loaded, Starling Marte joined in on the party. He smacked a two-RBI single that made it a 6-0 Mets lead. Nimmo followed with a homer during his second at-bat of the inning to make it a 9-0 Mets.
The Mets never looked back on that lead as they went on to shut out the Nationals 10-0 for a series sweep, adding another much-needed win into the win column. The Mets finished 2024 an astounding 11-2 against the Nationals and 6-0 against the division rivals at home.
Quintana also improved his scoreless streak over the Nationals to 21 innings. It’s the most by an opposing pitcher against the Nationals in club history.
Luisangel Acuña goes deep for the second day in a row! pic.twitter.com/a230hdXRRj
— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) September 19, 2024
Along with his streak against the Nationals, Quintana also extended his total scoreless innings streak to 22 2/3.
Acuña added to the Mets’ lead in the bottom of the eighth on a long solo home run to left field that made it a 10-0 Mets lead. The rookie has been electric for the Mets in Francisco Lindor‘s absence and has now clubbed two homers in his first week in the majors.
Phil Maton and Huascar Brazobán came in behind Quintana and combined for two scoreless innings to close it out for the Mets and secure their 84th win of the season.
Player of the Game
Jose Quintana took home the player of the game for his scoreless seven-inning start. He gave up just two hits, two walks, and struck out four on Wednesday. His ERA was decreased to 3.74. He held a very impressive 1.90 ERA for the month of September alone.
On Deck
On Thursday the Mets welcome the Phillies to New York for what is the most important series of the season. It is a four-game series that could determine whether or not the Phillies take the NL East in Queens.
It will be Taijuan Walker (3-6, 6.29 ERA) on the mound for the Phillies against Luis Severino (10-6, 3.77 ERA) on the mound for the Mets. The game will be televised nationally on FOX and can be broadcast on 880 AM.
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