Just Mets

Just seven months ago, it seemed like it was the Mets making the mistakes, failing to execute the little things, and getting pummeled as a result by the division rival Nationals seemingly every time they met.

The same can be said about 2013 as well.

The Mets had lost 27 of the previous 38 match-ups against the Nationals heading into yesterday. The Mets allowed 57 home runs in those 38 games to the Nationals compared to only 21 hit by the Mets in that two-year span. After being beaten up and embarrassed in those two years, Terry Collins went as far as to say this spring it’s important they prove they can beat Washington.

On Monday, they did just that, or maybe Washington beat themselves.

It wasn’t always pretty as Daniel Murphy committed a first inning gaffe resembling the club’s woes from the previous two years against Washington. But in the end, it was Washington failing to execute the little things, which cost them the game rather than the Mets.

With Washington leading 1-0 into the sixth inning on Opening Day, ace Max Scherzer was dominating the Mets with a no-hitter. But with two outs and Curtis Granderson on, David Wright popped one up behind second base, and instead of a routine inning-ending catch from Ian Desmond, he dropped the ball which allowed Granderson to advance to third and Wright to second.

“That was pretty embarrassing. I felt like one of those Little Leaguers,” Desmond said, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York.

Lucas Duda – who otherwise should’ve come up in the seventh with the Mets still looking for a hit – was next and delivered a two-run single to tie and give the Mets the lead.

“We’re lucky we caught a break right there,” Duda explained after the game. “I was lucky enough to put the ball in play and score two. It was a fastball, and I just got enough barrel on it to shoot it in the outfield.”

Fortunately for the Mets, Wright hustled on his routine popup which allowed him to reach second base, setting the stage for Duda’s big hit.

“I try to run everything out,” Wright explained. “As I hit first going to second, I saw a little confusion. So I wanted to make sure I got to second, at least.”

The Mets were indeed fortunate on Monday, but good teams need to be lucky too. With the way Scherzer was going, who knows if the Mets ever would’ve gotten a hit. But thanks to the Nationals failing to execute the little things, the Mets – like winning teams need to do – took advantage of the mistake.

With that play, maybe the tide is turning? It’s just one game of course, but its symbolic of what the Mets need to do if they have any prayer of not only getting to the playoffs, but winning in the playoffs.

And beating Washington at their own game is the first step towards doing that, even on day one.