Field Level Media
Aug 28, 2021
Pinch hitter Michael Conforto hit a go-ahead, three-run homer with one out in the seventh inning and the New York Mets snapped a seven-game home losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night.
Conforto gave the Mets a 5-3 lead when he batted for reliever Trevor May and lifted a first-pitch, 94-mph sinker from Mason Thompson over the left-center field fence.
It was Conforto's first career pinch-hit homer and gave New York its first home win since sweeping a doubleheader from Washington on Aug. 12. It also gave New York a win on the night it retired the number of Jerry Koosman, the No. 2 starter behind Hall of Famer Tom Seaver on the 1969 World Series-winning team.
Conforto's clutch homer was set up by Ryne Harper (0-1) allowing a leadoff single to Jeff McNeil and plunking Kevin Pillar in the back.
Pillar homered twice for the Mets, who won for only the third time in 15 games. He connected in the third and fifth for his sixth career multi-homer game.
Riley Adams gave Washington a 3-2 lead by scoring on a wild pitch by May (6-2) during an at-bat to Juan Soto with two outs in the seventh. After throwing a 1-2 changeup in the dirt and hitting the backstop, May recovered and whiffed Soto.
Alcides Escobar had three hits for the Nationals, including an RBI single in a two-run second off Marcus Stroman. Lane Thomas hit an RBI double to account for Washington's first run.
Stroman allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings, marking the 20th time he allowed two earned runs or fewer this season. He struck out five, walked one and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first before allowing two baserunners in his final four innings.
Seth Lugo followed May's escape in the seventh with a scoreless eighth, getting a double play on Yadiel Hernandez and a strikeout of Carter Kieboom.
Edwin Diaz tossed a scoreless ninth for his 26th save in 30 chances. It was his first save since the opener of New York's doubleheader on Aug. 12.
Washington's Sean Nolin allowed two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings in his third start since returning to the majors for the first time since 2015. He struck out six without giving up a walk.
--Field Level Media