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Sports

Mets rip 3 HRs in 5 pitches

Associated Press

NEW YORK – As the clock ticked past 11 p.m. and “Moondance” by Van Morrison practically wafted through the ballpark, young children ran around the bases as part of a family-friendly promotion normally reserved for Sunday afternoons.

For the first time in years, the New York Mets are a late show worth watching.

Curtis Granderson, Daniel Murphy and streaking Lucas Duda homered in a span of five pitches, a sudden power strike that charged up Citi Field and sent the Mets past the Washington Nationals, 5-2, Sunday night for a three-game sweep.

“I’ve never been in a playoff atmosphere, but tonight sure felt like one,” Duda said.

Noah Syndergaard (6-5) struck out nine over eight innings, and New York pulled within percentage points of the first-place Nationals in the NL East. Boosted by a trio of lively crowds, the Mets completed their first three-game sweep of Washington since May 2009 and boldly pronounced themselves legitimate contenders.

“It’s so much fun to be a Met right now,” Syndergaard said. “Just an unbelievable night, and I’m looking forward to the days to come.”

It was indeed a serious statement from the rising Mets, now 7-6 against the Nationals this season after going 4-15 last year. New York finished a wildly eventful 6-4 homestand that featured one undone trade, four new additions (including slugger Yoenis Cespedes) and a 162-game drug suspension for reliever Jenrry Mejia.

vuukle comment

ACIRC

CITI FIELD

CURTIS GRANDERSON

DANIEL MURPHY

JENRRY MEJIA

LUCAS DUDA

NEW YORK

NEW YORK METS

NOAH SYNDERGAARD

VAN MORRISON

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

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