WASHINGTON — Francisco Lindor had five RBIs on a pair of two-run homers and run-scoring single for his first big offensive game with the New York Mets, a 5-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.
Lindor homered in the first on a sinker from Joe Ross (3-7), singled in the third on a changeup for a 3-0 lead and homered in the fifth on a slider for his 12th multi-homer game. The five RBIs were his most since his career-high seven for the Indians on July 2, 2018, at Kansas City.
Cleveland traded Lindor to the Mets in January, and New York signed the 27-year-old to contracts worth $363.2 million over 11 seasons. Lindor, who had not driven in more than two runs in a game this season, is hitting .218 with eight homers and 21 RBIs.
New York opened a seven-game lead over fourth-place Washington in the NL East and stopped the Nationals’ season-high, five-game winning streak.
David Peterson threw a season-high 94 pitches but fell short of qualifying for the win, allowing one run and two hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Mets manager Luis Rojas removed Peterson after Trea Turner’s two-out double in the fifth, and Aaron Loup (2-0) allowed Juan Soto’s RBI single. Josh Bell walked, and Loup struck out Josh Harrison on three pitches.
Miguel Castro and Seth Lugo combined to pitch the sixth, and Trevor May finished a four-hitter in a seven-inning game under pandemic rules.
Ross (3-7) allowed five runs and six hits in five innings. He was coming off consecutive starts without allowing an earned run.
Peterson scored New York’s first run after he was hit by a pitch and also doubled leading off the fifth.
Left-hander Jon Lester (0-2, 4.09 ERA) was to start the second game for the Nationals and Robert Gsellman (0-0, 3.65) for the Mets.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals: RHP Max Scherzer (right groin) was expected to throw a bullpen session Saturday. Scherzer (5-4, 2.21 ERA) pitched just one-third of an inning in his June 11 start.
Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (right shoulder) threw a full bullpen session and is on track to start one of the the games in Monday’s doubleheader against Atlanta. Rojas said deGrom felt normal during a 20-pitch session. DeGrom (6-2, 0.54) left his Wednesday start after three innings because of right shoulder soreness.
UP NEXT
LHP Patrick Corbin (4-5, 5.60) starts Sunday’s series finale for the Nationals and RHP Taijuan Walker (6-2, 2.12) for the Mets.
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