WASHINGTON _ In nearly a month in the major leagues, Mets top prospect Amed Rosario has been almost exactly as advertised. Both his talent and his inexperience have been on full display, from his ranginess at shortstop and his rawness at the plate.
Yet, one more dimension to his game has seemingly emerged. The big moments barely phase him, as he showed in the first game of doubleheader against the Nationals on Sunday, when he swatted the game-winning homer in the Mets' 6-5 victory.
The Mets took a 5-0 lead on homers behind Asdrubal Cabrera and Wilmer Flores, only to let the Nationals tie the game in the seventh. But in the eighth, Rosario belted his fourth homer since his promotion, a solo shot that gave the Mets a 6-5 lead.
The 21-year-old Rosario has struggled with his plate discipline _ as expected. It had been part of the reason that the Mets were cautious about promoting the top prospect too early. In 93 at-bats, Rosario has struck out 28 times compared to two walks. Over time, it's a ratio that must improve. And the Mets (57-72) hope that development takes place now, with the season already lost.
But for now, Rosario has also shown a bit more pop than he had displayed in the minors. And his homers have come at opportune times.
Of Rosario's four home runs, three have come in the eighth inning or later. And two of them have given the Mets the lead. The other late-game homer came in the Subway Series, a two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth against the Yankees' fireballer, Aroldis Chapman.
Rosario's latest clutch shot helped absolve the Mets for blowing a five-run lead.
In the first inning, Cabrera hit his first homer since July 16. The three-run shot off Nationals starter Erick Fedde ended a stretch of 136 straight at-bats. Two innings later, Flores followed with a two-run shot that established a new single-season career high with 17 homers.
Mets lefty Tommy Milone allowed one run, but lasted only 4 1/3 innings. That left Collins to dump a heavy workload on the bullpen, even with one more game to play before the day. The Mets used six relievers including closer AJ Ramos, who worked the final two innings for a save.
In the ninth, the Mets caught a break. With pitcher Edin Jackson pinch-running at first base, Daniel Murphy laced a double to right-center, where Travis Taijeron had trouble picking up the ball.
Jackson, who had slowed pulling up to third, gained speed and broke for home. But Juan Lagares scrambled to pick up the ball, then began a perfect relay to nab Jackson at the plate despite his awkward head-first slide.
The play survived a video review, with the Nationals contending that Travis d'Arnaud had blocked the plate.
Meanwhile, it was Rosario who gave the Mets a lead to protect. With the score tied, Nationals reliever Joe Blanton jumped ahead in the count, 0-and-2, a tough spot for hitters. However, Rosario made an advantage out of his propensity to swing.
When Blanton fired a 91 mph fastball high in the zone, Rosario offered at it, making good enough contact to power the go-ahead homer over the fence in straightaway center field.
