WASHINGTON — Francisco Alvarez’s initial impact on this Mets lineup was felt Saturday.
On a day his team struggled to find any kind of offensive rhythm, the catcher — in his second game since returning from the injured list — took over the responsibility of delivering a big hit.
Alvarez’s two-run homer served as the Mets offense in a 2-0 victory over the Nationals.
The Mets won for the eighth time in nine games, rebounding after their seven-game winning streak was snapped a night earlier.
Luis Torrens nicely filled the void at catcher as Alvarez rehabbed from surgery to remove a broken hamate bone from his left hand.
But as much skill as Torrens brings to the position defensively, it’s the 23-year-old Alvarez’s potential offensively that sets him apart from most catchers.
Alvarez hit 25 homers as a rookie two years ago before slumping last season, perhaps compromised by surgery in April to repair a torn left thumb ligament.
Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the second inning to give the Mets a 2-0 lead. Alvarez jumped on a high slider from Brad Lord and sliced a shot inside the right-field foul pole after Jesse Winker had delivered a two-out single.
In his season debut a night earlier, Alvarez went 1-for-4 at the plate and threw out a runner attempting to steal second base.
The Mets (19-8) have another injury concern after A.J. Minter left the mound in the eighth inning in discomfort. The left-hander, working a second straight day, got one out in the inning. Max Kranick recorded the final two outs before Edwin Díaz — pitching for the first time since departing Wednesday’s game with a left hip cramp — earned the save with a scoreless ninth.
Clay Holmes gave the Mets what they needed: five scoreless innings in which he allowed four hits and struck out two. The right-hander, who was removed after 70 pitches, lowered his ERA to 2.64.
Just that the Mets could go that far with Holmes was a bonus following a rain delay in the first inning. Holmes went 46 minutes between pitches but returned strong. He did not allow an extra-base hit and retired 10 of 11 batters to complete his outing.
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It was a third straight start for Holmes in which he allowed one earned run or less. But the Mets would like additional length from Holmes (who has transitioned from a reliever to starter this season). In two of his past three starts, Holmes lasted only five innings.
Danny Young struck out three batters as part of a scoreless sixth before Reed Garrett got the Mets through the seventh unscathed. Garrett allowed two singles in the inning, but with the tying runs on base retired Dylan Crews and José Tena.
The Mets left two runners on base in the third against Lord, who retired Brandon Nimmo for the final out after Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso had singled in the inning.
Lindor bunted for a hit in the fifth — his third single of the game — before Juan Soto was retired on a squib in front of the catcher. Soto went 0-for-4 to follow a two-hit performance on Friday. Jeff McNeil began the inning with a single, but Luisangel Acuña grounded into a double play before Lindor’s bunt single.