Washington Nationals snap seven-game slide with 4-3 win over New York Mets in nightcap

Josh Rogers gave the Nationals more than they could reasonably have hoped for, giving up three runs on four hits in 5 ²⁄₃ innings pitched. Rogers left the mound with the Washington Nationals up 4-3 on the New York Mets, after surrendering a two-run home run in the top of the sixth, but the bullpen made the one-run lead hold up and the home team in the nation’s capital snapped their seven-game losing streak with a one-run win.

Rogers vs the Mets: Josh Rogers, 27, joined the Nationals this afternoon, after going (7-3) in 14 games (13 of them starts) at Triple-A Rochester in the Nats’ system, with 21 walks and 49 Ks in 73 IP. He signed with the organization in June, after starting the 2021 season as part of the Baltimore Orioles’ organization.

Rogers returned to the majors tonight for the first time since 2019, when he debuted with the Orioles.

“He’s got a four-pitch mix,” manager Davey Martinez said before the first of today’s two games.

“Throws strikes, he throws a lot of strikes, he had a couple good outings his last couple outings so we want to give him a shot and see what he can do.”

Rogers gave up a run in the top of the first, issuing a leadoff walk to Jonathan Villar, giving up a double by Pete Alonso, and an RBI single by Michael Conforto in the first three ABs, 1-0.

It was a 2-1 game when Rogers came back out for the second and retired the Mets in order, then he walked two batters but stranded them both in the third, and threw a quick, 8-pitch, 1-2-3 fourth which left him at 66 total on the night.

Rogers was up to seven-straight Mets’ hitters set down after striking out two in a 10-pitch, 1-2-3 top of the fifth.

Michael Conforto singled to start the sixth, and one out later, scored on a line drive home run to left by Kevin Pillar, who crushed a 2-1 changeup, and made it 4-3 in the Nats’ favor.

Rogers got one more out before the Nationals went to the ‘pen for a reliever...

Josh Rogers’ Line: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 Ks, 1 HR, 87 P, 57 S, 4/4 GO/FO.

Megill vs the Nationals: Going up against the Nationals last week in Citi Field, Mets’ righty Tylor Megill held NY’s NL East rivals to a one hit, three walks, and two runs in five innings.

Mets’ skipper Luis Rojas liked what he saw from Megill in that outing, which saw the 26-year-old right-hander retire nine of the first ten batters he faced.

“This kid doesn’t shy away,” Rojas said, as quoted on NorthJersey.com. “He’s going to go back and attack. Establishing the fastball is key for him.”

“His poise and his stuff helps him to get better. He had some adversity in his last outing and was a better pitcher today.”

Facing the Nationals again tonight, Megill took the mound with a 1-0 lead, but gave it right back, with Lane Thomas homering on a 94 MPH 1-2 fastball to lead off the bottom of the first inning, 1-1. Alcides Escobar singled in the next at-bat, took third on a Josh Bell single one out later, and scored on an RBI single to right by Carter Kieboom, 2-1.

Megill retired eight straight after Kieboom’s single, getting through four with just the two runs allowed.

A one-out single by Andrew Stevenson snapped the streak of retired batters at nine in the bottom of the fourth, but Nats’ catcher Riley Adams grounded into a 6-4-3 DP to end a 12-pitch fourth which left Megill at 63 pitches.

Luis García doubled to start the Nationals’ fifth, and two outs later he was standing on third when Alcides Escobar hit a 95 MPH 0-1 fastball out to right-center field for a 2-run shot and a 4-1 lead.

Megill came back out with a scoreless sixth to keep it a one-run game in the Nats’ favor.

Tylor Megill’s Line: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 8 Ks, 2 HRs, 96 P, 67 S, 4/3 GO/FO.

Bullpen Action: Andres Machado took over with two outs in the sixth and the Nationals up 4-3 on the Mets, and struck James McCann out to end the inning.

Kyle Finnegan, in his second outing of the day, after giving up the game-winning home run in this afternoon’s loss, took the mound with a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh and retired Francisco Lindor (who hit the aforementioned HR) and Javier Báez, before a two-out walk to Jonathan Villar which brought Pete Alonso up. Villar stole second base to get into scoring position, but Finnegan got up 1-2 on Alonso and got him looking with a low fastball to end it. Ballgame.

Final Score: 4-3 Nationals

Nationals now 56-79