Syndergaard, another Duda home run propel Mets to sweep of Nationals
Lucas Duda is the hottest hitter in baseball right now.
The New York Mets first baseman launched his ninth home run in the last eight games during the third inning of Sunday night's clash with the Washington Nationals as part of a three-homer frame for the Mets.
Curtis Granderson and Daniel Murphy got the party started with solo homers off Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann. Then Duda sent the Citi Field crowd into a frenzy with a two-run shot that barely cleared the fence in right field.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
The Mets (55-50) prevailed 5-2 to complete a three-game sweep of the Nationals (54-49) and pull even atop the National League East standings. New York has not been in first place this late in a season since Sept. 19, 2008.
Noah Syndergaard had another sublime start for the Mets, allowing seven hits and two earned runs - both solo home runs - in eight innings. He struck out nine and didn't walk a batter.
"It's fun to be a Met right now," Syndergaard said after the game.
Duda, with the home run, became the first Mets player in history to hit nine home runs in an eight-game span. Jason Bay (2006) and Josh Hamilton (2012) are the only other players to have accomplished the feat in the last 10 years.
The third inning was the first three-homer frame for the Mets since June 7, 2007 - when Carlos Delgado, David Wright, and Paul Lo Duca accomplished the feat against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Duda, who now has 21 dingers, belted a pair of homers in Saturday's contest with the Nats.