The Washington Nationals took the final game of their four-match series against the New York Mets with a 6-4 victory on Sunday evening. The result means the Nationals completed a series sweep after dropping the first game and splitting the middle two. The Mets had appeared to be closing in on the series win when they dominated yesterday's encounter 7-1.
The series had shifted momentum several times. After the Mets opened with a commanding 7-1 win on the road, the Nationals responded with a 7-6 victory in the next contest. The Mets then evened things up with a 6-7 loss, before yesterday's comprehensive 7-1 defeat sent the Nationals looking to salvage something from their home stand.
The Mets' recent form suggested they were the stronger side. They had beaten the Rangers twice in three games, including a 7-2 victory, and their 7-1 win over the Nationals the previous day showed they could outscore opponents when clicking. The Nationals, meanwhile, had struggled against the Tigers, losing two of three before finding some rhythm with back-to-back wins.
The 6-4 result today suggests the Nationals found their footing when it mattered. They had been outscored 15-10 across the first three games of the series, so this victory was about more than just the two points - it was about closing out the series on their own terms. The Mets had camped in the final third of the contest yesterday, but couldn't maintain that pressure through all nine innings.
The Nationals finish the season with a series victory against a divisional rival, while the Mets' inability to close out the series may prove costly in the standings. The four-game swing from 1-7 to 6-4 shows how quickly baseball can turn - and how important it is to seize opportunities when they appear.
