#Mets get Jeff McNeil update after Tomas Nido powers them to win

Tomas Nido barely hit enough to stay in the major leagues last season, but a winter spent working with a private swing instructor may have been the best $25,000 the Mets backup catcher ever spent.

Nido smashed two home runs, including his first career grand slam, in an 8-2 pounding of the Nationals at Citi Field that gave the Mets two straight victories and a split in the four-game series.

It wasn’t all smiles with the Mets, who lost Jeff McNeil in the first inning after he crashed into the left-field fence while making a catch. McNeil departed the field on a cart and underwent a knee X-ray that was negative. McNeil has a bone contusion and is day-to-day.

Mets left fielder Jeff McNeil suffered an apparent leg injury today crashing into the wall making a catch in the first inning.

N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg

Jeff McNeil crashing into the wall during today’s first inning.

N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg

Jeff McNeil falling after crashing into the wall during today’s first inning.

N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg

Jeff McNeil getting carted off after crashing into the wall.

N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg

David Peterson (3-1) gave the Mets a fourth straight solid start to begin his major league career. The left-hander allowed one run on one hit and two walks over five innings and lowered his ERA to 2.91. Jared Hughes allowed one run in two innings of relief before Edwin Diaz and Brad Brach threw a scoreless frame apiece.

Plate umpire Carlos Torres issued a warning to Peterson and both benches after Juan Soto was plunked in the fourth inning. J.D. Davis had been drilled earlier by the Nationals’ Austin Voth. On an afternoon in which neither team was pleased with the strike zone, Stephen Strasburg — seated in the stands behind the Nationals dugout — was ejected by Torres for complaining about calls.

Nido hit a two-run homer in the third that snapped a 1-1 tie before coming to the plate the next inning and again clearing the fence in left-center for a grand slam that gave the Mets a 7-1 cushion.

Dominic Smith homered for a second straight day as part of the Mets’ 13-hit attack.