WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Mets’ offense only managed two runs against the Washington Nationals on Saturday at Nationals Park.

They came way back in the second inning, where, in Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez’s second game back from a fractured hamate in his left hand, he hit a two-run home run down the right field line. The ball traveled 358 feet and stayed fair, landing inside the Nationals’ bullpen.

It’s the only two runs the Mets needed to beat the Nationals 2-0, making up for a heartbreaker on Saturday night.

Mets starter Clay Holmes looked the most effective he has all season. A sinker ball pitcher, he mostly generated soft contact from the Nationals in five innings, allowing just four fly balls, two that fell for singles.

Holmes had three assists and saw his ERA drop from 3.16 to 2.64. He was removed after five innings, likely because of a 46-minute rain delay midway through the first that forced him to have two ups in the inning.

In the seventh inning, the Nationals threatened to score. With reliever Reed Garrett in the game, the Nationals had runners on first and second with one out. A fly ball to center for the second out advanced the runner from second, and then a pop-up to second base ended the inning with the Mets still leading 2-0.

Mets left-hander A.J. Minter entered the game after Garrett, but he exited after nine pitches with an apparent injury. In 1/3 innings, Minter had one strikeout and was credited with a walk.

Like he had done in his previous outing on Wednesday, right-hander Max Kranick came in to finish the inning.

In his first game back since trainers removed him on Wednesday, Mets closer Edwin Díaz pitched a scoreless ninth with three strikeouts, earning his seventh save of the season.