Mets prove they can win with defense in latest victory over Nationals

WASHINGTON — Buck Showalter has often said that if your team makes less errors than the opposition, that bodes well for your overall success.

In a game where the margin for error was slim on Tuesday, the winning result was earned by the Mets' defense.

The Mets got strong pitching and canceled out several Nationals scoring opportunities to emerge with a 4-2 win in the teams' series opener in front of 21,955 fans at Nationals Park.

Carlos Carrasco pinned down his third win of the season with an effective 6⅔ innings, and Jeff McNeil played a major role in the win with a run-saving assist and a two-run double in the top of the sixth inning.

"We just have players that embrace (the little things)," Buck Showalter said. "They came with that skillset. (McNeil) had a great night, great baserunning, great tags. We had a big relay and (Eduardo Escobar) made a big catch of a pop-up out of a shift. I know I’m forgetting five or six things, but we pitched well, and that starts with Carrasco."

Maikel Franco pushed the Nationals in front by a run with an RBI double in the fourth.

But as Yadiel Hernandez looked to give Franco two RBI on the hit, Brandon Nimmo fielded the ball on the warning track, connected with McNeil who fired a laser home to punch out the Nationals outfielder to end the inning.

"I’m pretty familiar with (Nationals coach Gary DiSarcina) and how he coaches third," McNeil said. "I knew he was going to be aggressive and probably send him. Nimmo threw me a strike and I happened to throw a strike home and got him by a lot."

And after the Mets stormed ahead with a three-run sixth inning, the Mets defense held up its end of the bargain to make sure the Nationals didn't get back on top.

Francisco Lindor made a slick diving play to his left in the seventh inning to rob Franco of a one-out base hit. In the seventh, Dee Strange-Gordon reached on a bunt single but was thrown out attempting to steal by James McCann during the next at-bat.

Those plays helped set up Carrasco to grab the win.

"I got those two runs right there and I needed to get some zeroes," Carrasco said. "The guys came back with three runs in that inning. Lindor making that great play, McCann throwing out the guy at second base, it was really good. They held the game there."

And with Joely Rodriguez coming on to face Juan Soto with two outs in the eighth, Escobar tracked down a foul ball a step away from the tarp to end the threat.

Meanwhile, the Nationals made a pair of throwing errors. Franco's errant throw to open up the ninth allowed the Mets to score their fourth run of the game on a sacrifice fly from Davis.

Surge in the sixth

After stranding two runners in every inning between the third and fifth against Patrick Corbin, the Mets' bottom of the lineup provided the offensive boost that they had been searching for against the Nationals' bullpen.

Pete Alonso and J.D. Davis led off the frame with back-to-back singles before Eduardo Escobar loaded the bases with a one-out walk.

That traffic set the stage for McNeil — the hottest hitter in the Mets' lineup — to pull a two-run double that squeezed under the glove of Nationals first baseman Josh Bell.

The two RBI pushed McNeil's total to 12 on the season and helped raise his batting average to .370 with runners in scoring position.

"I think I’m kind of the same with runners in scoring position all the time, especially with a runner on third and less than two outs," McNeil said. "I’m really just trying to put the ball in play. It’s tough for me to be doubled up, so I know if I can put the ball in play, we’re going to get a run."

McCann provided the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to right field to make it 3-2.

Carrasco still quality

Carrasco was coming off his best start in close to five years.

And he's feeling like he's regaining some of that form after offseason elbow surgery and a year removed from a hamstring tear during spring training.

In a 3-0 win against the Braves on May 3, he pitched eight scoreless innings for the first time since Sept. 28, 2017. And he continued to give the Mets an opportunity to win on Tuesday.

Carrasco only needed 83 pitches to go 6⅔ innings. He scattered seven hits and did not yield a walk while striking out four batters.

"It’s completely different this year than last year coming from the surgery," Carrasco said. "This year, I completely feel free. I surprised myself today with a couple of 95 (mph pitches), and it’s good getting that. I just want to continue to work, go every five days and do my job."

He now has turned in quality starts in three of his last four trips to the mound.

Andrew Tredinnick is the Mets beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Mets analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and download our app.

Email: atredinnick@gannett.com Twitter: @andrew_tred

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets prove defense can provide lift in win over Nationals