MLB GAME RECAP

“Thor” helps Mets sweep Nats, tie for first

The Sports Xchange

August 02, 2015 at 8:03 pm.

Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. Photo Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. Photo Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK — The New York Mets hit three homers in a five-run, five-pitch sequence in the second inning Sunday, and they rolled to a 5-2 win over the Washington Nationals.

By completing a three-game sweep in front of an electrified crowd of 35,374 at Citi Field, the Mets (55-50) moved into a virtual tie for first place with the Nationals in the National League East.

Washington (54-49) had been alone in first every day since June 20.

Right fielder Curtis Granderson, second baseman Daniel Murphy and first baseman Lucas Duda in the third inning for the Mets, who capped an eventful 10-game homestand in which they remade their lineup by acquiring infielders Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson as well as outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

All three newcomers were in the lineup Sunday, but the Mets were led by their lineup holdovers — Murphy, Granderson, Duda, catcher Kevin Plawecki and pinch hitter Wilmer Flores combined for seven of New York’s eight hits — as well as rookie right-hander Noah Syndergaard (6-5), who allowed two runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out nine.

Right-hander Tyler Clippard, acquired on July 27, notched his first save as a Met with a one-hit ninth.

Second baseman Anthony Rendon (3-for-4) and third baseman Yunel Escobar homered for the Nationals.

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann (8-7) was strong outside of the fateful third inning. He gave up the five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings.

The Nationals took a quick lead when Rendon homered off the orange line atop the left-center field fence with one out in the first.

Zimmermann opened with 2 2/3 no-hit innings before the Mets whipped the crowd into a frenzy with their three-homer barrage. Granderson’s two-run homer to right scored Plawecki, who led off the third with a walk, to give New York a 2-1 lead.

The crowd was still roaring when Murphy homered to almost the same spot on the next pitch. Zimmerman gave up a single to center fielder Yoenis Cespedes, after which he was visited at the mound by pitching coach Steve McCatty. Duda hammered a two-run homer high off the foul pole on the next pitch to make it 5-1.

NOTES: Prior to the game, the Mets placed OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis (left shoulder/neck discomfort) on the 15-day disabled list and recalled OF Michael Conforto from Triple-A Las Vegas. Conforto was optioned to make room for OF Yoenis Cespedes on Saturday, but he never left New York as the Mets decided what to do with Nieuwenhuis. … LF Michael Cuddyer (left knee inflammation) headed to the Mets’ spring training facility in Florida to begin baseball activities. He was placed on the disabled list July 22. … Nationals C Jose Lobaton started for the fourth time in eight games. He started just four of 16 games between July 3 and July 24. … The Nationals were swept in a three-game series at Citi Field for the first time since May 25-27, 2009.