Alvarez's Homer and Mets Bullpen Secure 2-0 Win

Francisco Alvarez, in just his second game back from a fractured hamate bone, hit a two-run homer in the second inning to lead the New York Mets to a 2-0 victory over the Washington Nationals. Starter Clay Holmes pitched five scoreless innings, giving up four hits and striking out two, while lengthy rain delays disrupted the game. The Mets' bullpen, including Danny Young, Reed Garrett, and Max Kranick, kept the Nationals scoreless, with A.J. Minter leaving in the eighth with an apparent injury. Edwin Díaz, returning from a recent injury scare, struck out the side in the ninth to earn his seventh save. The win marked the Mets' 17th in April, setting a new franchise record for the month. Alvarez's immediate impact is seen as a significant boost after his challenging 2024 season.