Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor homer post All-Star snub as Mets beat Nationals

NEW YORK — On Sunday night, the National League All-Star rosters were announced. Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor were considered two of the biggest snubs to be left off the roster and on Tuesday they showed why.

Nimmo and Lindor both slugged homers in the Mets‘ 7-5 series-opening win over the Washington Nationals.

For Nimmo, his three-run shot — and 15th of the season — in the bottom of the second inning jumped the Amazins out to an early 4-0 lead. The left fielder owns a .826 OPS on the season and ranked 18th in fWAR entering Tuesday. His opposite-field blast certainly helped make the case that he should be heading to Texas with Pete Alonso next week.

The Mets’ shortstop slugged his 16th of the season when his two-run shot entered the home team’s bullpen in right-center field, making it 6-0. The 30-year-old has bounced back from a slow start and his 3 for 4 night on Tuesday pushed his season slash line closer to a typical Lindor season posting of .253/.321/.455.

There is still an opportunity for both Lindor and Nimmo to head to the Midsummer Classic as some selected may be replaced due to injury.

Jose Quintana didn’t give the Mets much to sweat about in their easy victory. The southpaw tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just one hit with five strikeouts and one walk. The veteran’s dominant performance dropped his season ERA down to 3.91 in 17 starts this season.

Adam Ottavino relieved Quintana in the eighth inning and his outing was short-lived. The right-hander allowed two hits, including a two-run homer by Ildemaro Vargas. Ottavino was later removed after hitting CJ Abrams with a pitch and registering just one out. Ottavino let the boo birds out of their cage as boo’s rained down Citi Field after serving up the homer and upon his removal.

The veteran’s ERA is up to 5.03 on the season.

Carlos Mendoza called on Dedinal Nunez who put out the fire in the eighth before Jeff McNeil added an insurance run with an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning. Reed Garrett was called upon to get the final three outs in the ninth.

The right-hander served up a two-run homer to Keibert Ruiz and retired the next two batters. However, Garrett couldn’t secure the final out after being just one strike away as he walked Jacob Young. That forced Mendoza to sound the trumpets with the tying run on-deck.

Young scored from second on a wild pitch after Francisco Alvarez lost track of the ball behind home plate, however, Edwin Diaz got Abrams swinging for the final out to secure the victory.

The Mets will turn to Luis Severino on Wednesday to secure another series victory. Severino will bring his 3.42 ERA against left-hander Patrick Corbin (5.50) for Dave Martinez’s squad.

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