WASHINGTON — Taijuan Walker stood astride Juan Soto after tagging him out throughout a collision at third base that the Washington Nationals slugger felt was extra violent than it wanted to be.
Walker and the Mets are punishing the N.L. East.
Walker pitched seven innings of no-fuss, scoreless ball, and the Mets remained unbeaten in 10 collection this season, cruising previous the sloppy Nationals, 4-1, on Thursday.
Walker, a burly right-hander, tagged Soto at third after the Nationals’ greatest hitter made an elementary baserunning gaffe, getting himself right into a rundown after Josh Bell hit a grounder to the left aspect. Soto slid into Walker’s forearm just a few toes in entrance of the bag and argued for an obstruction name, however Walker already had the ball when Soto bought there.
“It was surprising. I bought somewhat mad as a result of it was a rundown and I didn’t assume he was going to slip into me,” Walker stated. “Sensible play, I suppose, the man was going to second, however within the second I wasn’t too glad about it.”
After tagging Soto, Walker threw wildly to second base, and proper fielder Starling Marte threw again to 3rd to nail Bell and finish the Nationals’ greatest likelihood to rally.
“Issues like that, once we’re behind like that, these aren’t good baserunning choices,” Washington Supervisor Dave Martinez stated. “We have to make higher choices.”
Mark Canha went 3 for 4 with a homer and three R.B.I. for the first-place Mets, who took two of three from the last-place Nationals. The Mets have gained 9 collection and break up one, and hasn’t misplaced two straight video games in a month.
“We’ve got a hitter of the day. We give the award out once we are available in,” Canha stated. “Right now it was me, after which, what’s cool about this staff is, I really feel like, I’m fairly certain all our hitters have gained the award sooner or later this 12 months. … Somebody at all times is the hero, and that’s been the good a part of this 12 months.”
Walker (1-0) allowed three hits, walked one and threw 85 pitches within the longest of his 4 begins this season, which was interrupted by a stint on the injured record with proper shoulder bursitis.
Seth Lugo struck out two within the eighth and Edwin Díaz allowed Soto’s two-out homer within the ninth earlier than retiring Bell to finish the four-hitter.
Soto stated he was at fault on the rundown play, which got here after he opened the fourth inning with a double off the wall in right-center.
“I used to be simply caught in the midst of nothing,” he stated. “I attempted to slip. I didn’t attempt to damage him or something like that. He’s bought to offer me room to at the very least slide on the bottom.”
