Fedde allows big homer in first (Mets win 6-5)

Right-hander Erick Fedde was looking to get off to a good start in his matchup Sunday in Game 1 against the Mets.

That didn't happen in his first major league start.

On July 30, Fedde allowed two runs in the first inning and seven runs on 10 hits in a 10-6 loss to the Rockies.

But a week later he fared better.

Against the Cubs on Aug. 6, Fedde allowed only two runs through four frames. But in the sixth the Cubs scored two more runs. The Nats rallied to win that game 9-4.

Returning to the majors Aug. 27, Fedde again was plagued by a slow start. Brandon Nimmo singled to lead off the game. Juan Lagares was hit by a pitch. Asdrúbal Cabrera followed with a three-run shot on a 2-0 pitch. It was Cabrera's 10th homer of the season.

In the second inning, Matt Reynolds singled with one away. He went to second on a sacrifice by Mets starter Tommy Milone. Fedde then got Nimmo on a called third strike on the outside top corner.

Milone allowed a leadoff single to Howie Kendrick, and then a nice sacrifice by Wilmer Difo, but the Nats could not generate anything else in their first inning.

Mid-second, the Mets lead the Nats 3-0.

Update: Fedde walked Cabrera with one out in the third. Wilmer Flores, who already had four hits in the series, cranked a two-run shot, his 17th, on a 1-0 pitch.

Mid-third, Mets lead 5-0.

Update II: The Nats rally in the fifth started off very promising but then faded quickly. Rafael Bautista singled and went to second base on a sacrifice by Milone. Kendrick singled him to third. Difo's RBI single got the Nats on the board. Milone was replaced by reliever Hansel Robles, who struck out Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman, both looking.

After five innings, the Mets lead the Nats 5-1.

Update III: Alejandro De Aza dropped in an RBI double in the sixth, Michael A. Taylor scored. With the bases loaded, Kendrick lofted a sacrifice fly to center field that scored De Aza.

Fedde finished six innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts. He tossed 112 pitches, 67 for strikes. Something was definitely off with Fedde's velocity, hovering around 89-90 mph on his fastball the entire game.

After six innings, the Mets lead the Nats 5-3.

Update IV: Nats came all the way back and tied the game in the seventh. Michael A. Taylor with a dramatic RBI double and De Aza added a sacrifice flyout to left field.

After seven innings, the game is tied at 5-5.

Update V: Mets took the lead back thanks to a solo homer by Amed Rosario off of Joe Blanton in the eighth. The Nats loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning with a hit by pitch, a single and a walk. Wieters grounded out to shortstop to end the opportunity to tie or take the lead.

After eight innings, the Mets lead the Nats 6-5.

Update VI: In the ninth still facing AJ Ramos, pinch-hitter Adam Lind singled with two outs. Edwin Jackson pinch-ran for Lind. Daniel Murphy doubled. Jackson was out at the plate 9-4-2 to end the game.

The Nationals challenged the call on the field on the home-plate-blocking rule. No violation, according to a video review.

Final score: The Mets 6, the Nats 5.