WASHINGTON, D.C. – If his season debut is any indication, most of Carlos Carrasco’s 2021 struggles are behind him.

After allowing two hits, including a home run, in the first inning, Carrasco finished his outing against the Nationals by retiring 15 batters in a row. He was confident, dominant and back to feeling like himself again in the Mets’ 4-2 loss to the Nationals on Sunday.

“It feels good,” Carrasco said. “Like I said in spring training, I was ready for this.”

Carrasco gave up just the two hits – the damage coming on a Nelson Cruz home run in the first inning – and registered five strikeouts across his 5.2-inning start. The veteran right-hander said he didn’t locate his sinker to Cruz, which fell toward the bottom of the zone and right in Cruz’s wheelhouse.

Last year, Carrasco allowed eight home runs in the first inning. Sunday’s first-inning dinger to Cruz made for nine home runs allowed in 11 of his last 13 starts for the Mets. Carrasco said he spoke to catcher Tomas Nido after the first inning and they both settled on a game plan that would work for the remainder of his outing.

As was the case for Carrasco last season, the 35-year-old settled down after that tough first inning. He retired Juan Soto both times he faced him, and all of his pitches were working. Carrasco credited the usage and movement of his secondary pitches to the elbow surgery he underwent in the offseason. That operation, which removed some bone chips from his right elbow, has allowed Carrasco to feel more comfortable throwing his breaking balls.

When asked which pitch was his best on Sunday, Carrasco said: “All four pitches.”

It showed. Carrasco cruised through the early and middle innings. When Josh Bell worked a walk against Chasen Shreve in the seventh, he was the first Nationals batter to reach base since the first inning.

“I think the most important thing is to stay healthy and keep playing hard,” Carrasco said.

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