WASHINGTON — Dedniel Nunez’s trustworthiness in the Mets bullpen is growing by the day.
The fireballing right-hander was given a high-leverage spot on Tuesday, asked to finish the seventh inning with the tying run at the plate after David Peterson’s departure.
Nunez struck out Lane Thomas to end the threat and then returned to work a perfect eighth in the Mets’ 6-3 victory over the Nationals.
“In that moment I just said, ‘Yeah, I’m going to beat you,’ ” Nunez said through an interpreter, referring to his strikeout of Thomas on a 97 mph fastball.
It was Nunez’s fourth straight appearance since his recall from Triple-A Syracuse in which he didn’t allow an earned run.
During that stretch he’s struck out nine over 5 ¹/₃ innings.
His emergence has come with veteran arms such as Adam Ottavino, Reed Garrett and Jake Diekman slumping.
Edwin Diaz was also struggling before he was placed on the injured list last week with a right shoulder impingement.
“[Nunez’s] stuff overall looks pretty heavy from the dugout,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “You can tell by the swings the hitters are taking on his pitches.”
Nunez, 27, is relishing the chance to pitch with more at stake.
“I appreciate the trust that [Mendoza] is putting to me at this point,” Nunez said. “It’s like the next level of trust. But also the energy the team has been displaying on the field it kind of puts you in a position where you are going out to help the team as much as you possibly can.”
Jose Iglesias started for a second straight game at second base, leaving slumping Jeff McNeil on the bench against lefty starter DJ Herz.
Iglesias went 1-for-4 a night after finishing with three hits.
“It’s just one if those, Iglesias had a good game [Monday],” Mendoza said. “Look, McNeil is still our second baseman. For us to get where we want to get we are going to need Jeff McNeil to be the player he is capable of.”
Mendoza declined to say if he planned to reinsert McNeil into the lineup for Wednesday’s series finale — the Nationals are scheduled to start a third straight lefty in Patrick Corbin.
In a rehab game, Francisco Alvarez was behind the plate for all nine innings in the first no-hitter in Brooklyn Cyclones history. Dakota Hawkins, Joey Lancellotti and Joshua Cornielly combined for the no-hitter in a 3-0 victory over Aberdeen.
The Mets are hopeful Alvarez will be activated from the injured list next week.
Diaz threw a 21-pitch bullpen session and likely will appear in a minor league game on Thursday, according to Mendoza.
The right-hander is likely to return from the injured list next week.