Acce s the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. David Peterson recorded the final out of the eighth inning, lugged an arm that had thrown 97 pitches to the dugout and did not glance at his manager. Carlos Mendoza huddled with his pitching coaches, Jeremy Hefner and Desi Druschel, and discu sed how far they believed the lefty could be pushed. Mendoza glanced at Peterson, who didnt want to give me a look, Mendoza said, as if an acknowledgment of the moment might ruin the moment. But this moment on the precipice of what in 2025 surely feels like history, given its scarcity demanded a conversation. Mendoza soon after met with Peterson in the tunnel that leads out of the dugout and had a short chat. Let me finish it, Peterson told him. New York Mets pitcher David Peterson (23) celebrates his shutout with catcher Luis Torrens (13) on June 11, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Explore More New York Mets pitcher David Peterson (23) celebrates his shutout. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST All right, Mendoza said. Its yours. David Peterson held the Nats in check for nine innings. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST David Peterson and the Mets celebrate their win on Wednesday night. JASON SZENES/NY POST David Peterson throws a pitch during the Mets 5-0 win over the Nationals at Citi Field on June 11, 2025. JASON SZENES/NY POST A complete-game shutout the first of his career was Petersons on Wednesday, when he shut down the Nationals, tested his manager and saved his bullpen in a 5-0 victory at Citi Field. Its awesome. You dream of doing stuff like this, Peterson said after becoming the first Met to throw a complete game since Luis Severino on Aug. 17 of last year and the first Mets lefty to to s a complete-game shutout since Steven Matz on July 27, 2019. CHECK OUT THE AND Yes: 2019. Things that happen once every six years are pretty cool, said Brandon Nimmo, who led the offense with two home runs. A complete-game shutout in 2025 requires an efficient pitcher who is able to pitch to contact, with the type of stuff that can get himself out of trouble and the type of mentality that stares down that trouble. Peterson, who has been one of the better pitchers in baseball since returning from hip surgery about a year ago, checked off all the boxes. Juan Soto flips his bat after hitting a two-run homer in the third inning of the Mets win over the Nationals. Corey Sipkin for New York Post Macklin Celebrini Jersey Its been fun to see him grow up in front of my eyes, Nimmo said after a fifth straight win for the Mets (44-24). It requires a manager who is willing to listen to his players, even if the conversations and decisions are not quite obvious. Juan Soto watches his two-run home run off Jake Irvin during the third inning of the Mets win over the Nationals. JASON SZENES/NY POST Of course Mendoza wants to protect Peterson, who shrunk his ERA to 2.49 and is a ma sive piece of a club that has World Series aspirations. So with 97 pitches on the odometer, Mendoza told Peterson he could have the ninth but also ensured Ryne Stanek was warmed up in the bullpen. He conferred with Luis Torrens and told the catcher that Peterson had eight or nine pitches to record the final three outs, or else Stanek would be summoned. So I went out there with a plan to get a quick ninth, Torrens said simply, and Peterson only needed nine pitches to get Amed Rosario to line out, James Wood to strike out and Andrs Chaparro to ground out. Brandon Nimmo is congratulated by his teammates in the dugout after belting a solo home run in the fifth inning of the Mets victory over the Nationals. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Peterson pumped his fist, smiled a wide smile and gave Torrens a hug. Another hug was soon due to Mendoza. No one quite tests Mendoza like Peterson, who is sure of himself, confident and a bulldog who does not like to be pulled. You dont see this too often, especially with pitch counts and max efforts, Mendoza said after Peterson became the fourth pitcher in the majors this year to throw a shutout without allowing a walk. Seeing a performance like that nowadays, its something that we dont take for granted. You just have to enjoy it. Peterson was excellent over those nine innings in which he let up six hits. He only struck out six, pitching to contact that was driven into the ground, but seemed to save the strikeouts for the moments they were required. David Peterson reacts in the ninth inning. JASON SZENES/NY POST He twice found himself in danger, the first time in a seventh in which he bailed himself out. Rosario and Wood came up with back-to-back singles to begin the frame. As if a flip were switched avoid contact, keep the runners right there Peterson used nasty sliders to strike out Chaparro and Nathaniel Lowe before Alex Call grounded out. He needed some help in the eighth. After a Luis Garca Jr. double, Jacob Young shot a single to a just-subbed-in Tyrone Taylor in center field, who came off the bench warm. Taylor fired a one-hopper to Torrens, who caught the ball a few feet in front of the plate and then leapt backward, applying a tag just before Garcas hand touched the plate. Its something I couldnt have done without Luis and defense and obviously the offense putting up runs, Peterson said. Its just a huge team effort. This is all theirs as well. Filip Zadina Jersey