WASHINGTON (AP) — Kyle Schwarber homered twice, becoming the first player in major league history to hit 15 home runs in a 17-day span, and the Washington Nationals beat the New York Mets 8-4 on Monday night.
Schwarber socked a 1-0 fastball from Jared Eickhoff an estimated 439 feet into the upper deck in right field in the first inning. It was his sixth leadoff homer this season, and Trea Turner followed with a 435-foot bomb to left to make it 2-0.
Schwarber said afterward he’s not trying to hit home runs.
“I think the biggest thing is just not missing the pitch,” Schwarber said. “Not fouling it off or taking it.”
Schwarber took Eickhoff (0-1), who said he may have been tipping pitches, deep again in the fifth inning, his 24th of the year.
“We’re trying everything,” manager Luis Rojas said of Schwarber. “We’re pitching him in, away, down, up, we’ve bounced balls. We’ve tried everything. This guy is swinging a hot bat.”
The Nationals have won 12 of 15 to return to .500 — their only winning record this year was after their season opener — and move within three games of the first-place Mets in the NL East. Schwarber has powered the team's surge, setting a franchise record for home runs in any month with his 15 homers in June.
“I don’t think we ever doubted ourselves,” Schwarber said. “I think that was the biggest thing.”
Ryan Zimmerman had a pinch-hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning for the Nationals after New York had cut the lead to 5-4. Gerardo Parra also homered for Washington, his first since rejoining the team on June 20.
“Huge,” Nationals manager Davey Martinez said of Zimmerman's homer. “Huge.”
Paolo Espino (2-2) threw five scoreless innings in a spot start. Brad Hand retired pinch-hitters Michael Conforto and James McCann in the eighth before pitching a scoreless ninth for his 17th save.
The Mets made it interesting in the late innings. Jeff McNeil singled in New York's first run in the seventh, and Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer, his 12th of the season, off reliever Justin Miller in the eighth. Billy McKinney followed with a homer to right.
The game was a makeup of a contest that was scheduled for the season-opening series between the teams, which was postponed because of a COVID-19 outbreak in the Nationals organization.
MORE SCHWARBS
Schwarber’s 11 homers in his last nine games is tied for the most in any nine-game span since 1901. Frank Howard did it in 1968 for the Washington Senators.
Schwarber said he prefers to “play stupid” as opposed to assess and embrace his run. Though he acknowledged being mention with figures like Howard is notable.
“It’s definitely something you want to remember,” Schwarber said. “You’re doing some things with really unbelievable players. Keep riding the wave. That’s the biggest thing.”
His tear began when he was moved to the leadoff spot. Jose Altuve shares the major league lead in leadoff homers, but his six have come in 66 games at the top of the order. Schwarber has batted leadoff 17 times.
“Honestly, I’ve never seen (anything) like it before,” Martinez said. “Hopefully he keeps on doing it.”
Schwarber has five multi-homer games this season, all in June, and three against the Mets. He has 13 in his career.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals: RHP Daniel Hudson (right elbow inflammation) is expected to throw a bullpen session Wednesday. Hudson threw from flat ground at Nationals Park on Monday. ... Stephen Strasburg (neck strain) also threw from flat gorund.
Mets: OF Brandon Nimmo (detached hand ligament) was expected to join the team Tuesday but will remain on his minor-league rehab with Triple-A Syracuse. Nimmo has been out since May 3, and the Mets want Nimmo to get more at-bats. He has not had a setback, manager Luis Rojas said. ... RHP Marcus Stroman was placed on the bereavement list Monday. Sean Reid-Foley was called up from Triple-A.
UP NEXT
Mets: RHP Tyler Megill (0-0, 4.15) will open a three-game series at Atlanta.
Nationals: RHP Joe Ross (4-7, 4.12 ERA) opens a two-game home series against Tampa Bay.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
