Ex-Met Cabrera lifts Nats past former team

NEW YORK -- Before Sunday’s game against the Mets, Nationals manager Dave Martinez said his team had to be aggressive against Jacob deGrom. Washington was aggressive against the right-hander, all right. He was out of the game after throwing 101 pitches in five innings.

But deGrom didn’t figure in the decision as the Nationals defeated the Mets, 7-4, at Citi Field. Washington was able to win the finale three-game series and halt the Mets' eight-game winning streak.

• Box score

“It was a good way to end a good, long hard-fought series,” Martinez said. “There was a lot of energy these three days. I can’t wait to get home. Our players were engaged, they were in it and we came out on top today.”

The game was tied at 3 when Washington took the lead. With the bases loaded and two outs, former Mets player Asdrúbal Cabrera doubled down the right-field line off left-hander Justin Wilson. Adam Eaton and Anthony Rendon scored on the play. Juan Soto tried to score, but he was stopped by third-base coach Bobby Henley and was tagged out between third and home after hurting his leg. Soto was listed as day to day with a mild right ankle sprain.

Cabrera, who played 2 1/2 seasons in New York, didn’t feel like he was seeking revenge on the Mets.

“I’m just going out there to do my job, no matter who we face or who we play,” said Cabrera, who started the final two games of the series at second base.

Mets manager Mickey Calloway was surprised that Cabrera swung at the first pitch from Wilson.

"For Cabby to even swing at that pitch, much less stick his bat out there and hit a double was kind of mind-boggling,” Calloway said. “It wasn't even a strike. First pitch, it wasn't even a strike. But they got the timely hits today -- seven runs all with two outs. That's kind of what we've been doing to win games, and they did it today."

The Mets made it a one-run game in the seventh when Michael Conforto hit a sacrifice fly off Hunter Strickland, scoring Jeff McNeil. But Washington increased its lead in the ninth inning when Victor Robles hit a two-run homer off Mets closer Edwin Diaz.

The Nationals’ bullpen, which has been maligned all year, blanked the Mets the final two innings with Sean Doolittle getting his 26th save of the season.

For Doolittle, who retired the side in order, it was like he exorcised the demons at Citi Field.

“It was awesome for him to get back on the bump and do what he did,” Martinez said. “It will build some confidence, and now we get to go home for a week and do it again tomorrow [against the Reds].”

Doolittle said the ball came out of his hand much better. When he entered the game, he was given a loud ovation by the Citi Field crowd, two days after allowing four runs in two-thirds of an inning on Friday against the Mets.

“It was a big win for the team. It was an important outing for me,” Doolittle said. “The guys battled so much early. They got deGrom’s pitch count up. They made him uncomfortable. When you are playing a team that good and that hot, you have to absorb some punches in the game. Just because you are taking the lead does not mean they are going to roll over. That’s what happened. We didn’t bend, [and] we didn’t break.”