Mets 1, Nationals 0
NEW YORK -- Right fielder Curtis Granderson's solo homer with one out in the eighth inning snapped a scoreless tie Sunday afternoon, when seven New York Mets pitchers combined on a two-hitter in a 1-0 win over the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
The National League East champion Mets (90-72) snapped a five-game losing streak. They will enter the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday having scored just two runs in their last 43 innings.
The Nationals, the overwhelming favorite to win the NL East, finished 83-79.
Right-hander Tyler Clippard (4-1), the sixth Mets pitcher, earned the win with a perfect eighth. Right-hander Jeurys Familia allowed one hit in the ninth -- a two-out double by right fielder Bryce Harper -- in notching his 43rd save, which ties the team record set by right-hander Armando Benitez in 2001.
The first four Mets pitchers -- right-handed starter Jacob deGrom, right-hander Bartolo Colon, right-hander Logan Verrett and left-hander Jonathon Niese -- combined for 6 2/3 no-hit innings before Nationals first baseman Clint Robinson's hard shot up the middle bounced off the leg of shortstop Ruben Tejada and caromed into right field. The official scorer immediately ruled it a hit.
The Mets, who were no-hit by Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer on Saturday night, were trying to become only the third team in history to no-hit an opponent the day after being no-hit.
The Mets did little to support their cadre of pitchers. Only two baserunners got as far as second base in the first seven innings before Granderson (3-for-4) launched his 26th homer well beyond the center field wall off right-hander Blake Treinen (2-5).
DeGrom, the likely starter in Game 1 of the NLDS, walked two and struck out seven over four innings. He was on a pitch count of about 80 and was lifted after 72 pitches.
Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark allowed three hits and one walk while striking out six over six shutout innings. He finished the season 4-7 with a 4.38 ERA.
NOTES: Nationals GM Mike Rizzo spoke to reporters before the game but offered no news on the status of manager Matt Williams. CBSSports.com reported Friday that Williams will be fired. Rizzo said the Nationals' organizational meetings will begin Monday. "We're going to be decisive and make decisions sooner rather than later about personnel on the field and off the field," Rizzo said. "We're not going to let people twist in the wind. We want to make our decisions and move on." ... Nationals INF Wilmer Difo suffered a fractured left hand diving into first base while beating out an infield single Saturday night. ... Mets RHP Steven Matz (back) is scheduled to throw long toss Tuesday and start an instructional league game on Thursday. Matz, who hasn't started since Sept. 24, is still a candidate to start Game 4 of the NLDS against the Dodgers. ... Mets IF Juan Uribe (chest) is unlikely to make the NLDS roster.