WASHINGTON — David Peterson has rehabilitated his season over the last few weeks with hardly flashy but effective performances.
On Thursday he walked the bases loaded in the first inning, escaping unscathed, albeit with an elevated pitch count.
He got the Mets, as their starting pitcher, through the fifth with only one run allowed against the Nationals, reversing a recent trend.
In five appearances as a bulk reliever he’s pitched to a 2.25 ERA.
In five as a starter before this latest outing he owned an 8.10 ERA.
Peterson’s best start since opening weekend helped the Mets win 2-1 to split their four-game series at Nationals Park.
The Mets snapped a two-game skid.
The lefty had a brutal start against these Nationals on April 29, allowing seven earned runs, but since then has recovered, pitching to a 2.50 ERA over four appearances.
The Mets have needed him, especially with Clay Holmes’ deployment to the injured list over the last week with a fractured right fibula.
Huascar Brazobán, Brooks Raley, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams each pitched a scoreless inning behind Peterson.
Next stop for the Mets is a three-game series that begins Friday in Miami.
Peterson started his day with two fast outs before walking Andrés Chaparro, CJ Abrams and Dylan Crews to load the bases.
Peterson, who threw 28 pitches in the inning, struck out Daylen Lile to escape.
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Bo Bichette’s fielding error to begin the second was overcome as Keibert Ruiz was nailed attempting to steal second, completing a strikeout/throw-out double play to end the inning.
Bichette stroked a two-run single in the third inning against Cade Cavalli for the game’s first scoring.
MJ Melendez got hit by a pitch and Luis Torrens and Carson Benge each singled to load the bases before Bichette delivered with a shot through the middle.
It continued a hot stretch for Bichette, who was 7-for-19 (.368) with three homers over his previous four games.
He finished with six RBIs in the four-game series.
The Nats pulled to within 2-1 in the fifth on Chaparo’s RBI ground out.
Ruiz singled and James Wood doubled to put runners on second and third with nobody out.
After Chaparro brought in the run with a ground out, Mark Vientos’ diving stop and scamper to first on Abrams’ smash prevented the Nationals from tying the game.
The Mets loaded the bases with nobody out in the ninth, but couldn’t add insurance.
Melendez struck out, Torrens was retired on a line drive and Benge flied out.
A.J. Ewing broke in the wrong direction on Lile’s fly ball leading off the bottom of the ninth and couldn’t secure the ball in his glove upon recovering.
Lile reached second for a double and advanced to third on a ground out.
Williams struck out Jose Tena before retiring Ruiz.
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