Francisco Alvarez homers, Mets shut out Nationals

Francisco Alvarez hit a two-run homer and the visiting New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 2-0 on Saturday.

Francisco Lindor had three hits for the Mets, who set a new team record for wins in the month of April (17) one day after their seven-game winning streak was ended.

New York starter Clay Holmes (3-1) pitched five innings, allowing four hits and striking out two without a walk.

Washington starter Brad Lord (0-3) gave up two runs on five hits over four innings while striking out three without a walk.

Dylan Crews and Luis Garcia Jr. had two hits each for the Nationals, who had won five of seven.

Mets reliever A.J. Minter left the game with an apparent injury in the eighth inning. Edwin Diaz pitched the ninth for his seventh save.

The game was delayed 25 minutes by rain before it started and then again for 46 minutes in the bottom of the first inning.

With two outs in the top of the second, the Mets' Jesse Winker fell behind Lord 0-2. He battled back and on the eighth pitch of the at-bat singled up the middle. Alvarez, who was activated from the injured list on Friday, followed with an opposite-field homer into the Nationals' bullpen in right and the Mets led 2-0.

Lindor singled with one out in the New York third and Pete Alonso singled with two outs, but Lord retired Brandon Nimmo on a fly to center.

CJ Abrams singled leading off the Washington sixth inning, but Danny Young struck out James Wood, Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell.

Garcia singled leading off the bottom of the seventh against Reed Garrett. Keibert Ruiz hit into a fielder's choice, but Crews followed with a single. Jose Tena flied out, with Ruiz moving to third, but Jacob Young lined out to end the inning.

The Mets put runners on first and second with one out in the ninth but couldn't add to their lead.

--Field Level Media