Thor, Max fan 10 each in Mets’ shutout win

NEW YORK — The battle between the Nationals and Mets began with flair Tuesday night at Citi Field, then it turned into an expected pitchers’ duel that ended in a 2-0 win for New York in the first game of the season between the two rivals. Only a half-game separates the first-place Nats and the Mets in the National League East.

Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard pitched seven dominant innings, allowing five hits and striking out 10. 

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“It always helps when you have a horse you can ride on that mound,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “We played good, but we pitched great.”

Addison Reed relieved Syndergaard with a perfect eighth, including two strikeouts, and Jeurys Familia tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his 13th save.

Right-hander Max Scherzer wasn’t as powerful as he was last week, when he struck out 20 Tigers. Still, he struck out 10, while allowing two runs and three hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Two of the hits Scherzer allowed proved to be lethal, starting with Curtis Granderson’s leadoff homer over the right-field wall on Scherzer’s first pitch of the game. Two innings later, Michael Conforto clubbed his sixth home run of the season, also a solo shot to right.

Scherzer has now allowed 13 home runs, which is tied for the most in the Major Leagues. 

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“The home runs have been his nemesis all year,” Baker said. “If you give up two solo home runs against a lesser pitcher, you usually are not going to lose. Syndergaard was throwing the heck out of the ball. So we didn’t have a whole bunch of opportunities.” 

“Just trying to make it unpredictable,” Syndergaard said. “Trying to make them uncomfortable.”

The Mets broke a four-game losing streak, while the Nationals have dropped their last three games.

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