The call him “Mr. National” for a reason. Monday with the Washington Nationals needing a boost, Ryan Zimmerman delivered a clutch pinch-hit three-run homer in the eighth inning… on the first pitch he saw!
The Nationals had built a 5-0 lead against the New York Mets off four home runs, including two from Kyle Schwarber. However, the Mets chipped away. After back-to-back home runs by Pete Alonso and Billy McKinney in the top of the eighth, the Nats lead shrunk to one at 5-4.
However, after a bizarre three-error play by the Mets left runners on second and third for the Nationals, Zimmerman was called to the plate. Mets reliever Miguel Castro threw a first-pitch 99 miles per hour sinker and Zimmerman sent it 437 feet into center field for the clutch three-run dinger.
Zimmerman’s blast helped propel the Nationals to an 8-4 win over its NL East rival. The Nationals have beaten the Mets in four of their last five meetings this season. Now at 38-38, Washington is three games behind the Mets for first place in the division.
