Final Score: 10 innings, Washington Nationals: 8 New York
Mets: 2
Mets Suffer Meltdown in Extras, Fall to Nationals
On a soggy night at Citi Field the Mets once again fought
valiantly against the division leading Washington Nationals to once again
suffer a meltdown in extra innings, losing 8-2.
The loss drops the Mets to a season-high two games under .500 and fading
fast in the wild card and NL East division races. The Mets have now trailed for 40 straight
innings and are 1-10 since the All-Star break.
Tonight the culprit out of the Mets bullpen was Pedro
Beato. Beato inherited two runners of
Tim Byrdak and subsequently surrendered the tie-breaking single to Bryce Harper
with the bases loaded. Ryan Zimmerman
added on with a bases clearing double and Michael Morse launched a two-run
homer to finish the scoring in a six run frame for the Nationals.
The Mets should have been in much better shape, but Ruben
Tejada dropped a throw from Byrdak on a tailor made double-play ball after Roger
Bernadina led off the inning with a single.
Tejada was spiked on the play and was checked out by trainer Ray Ramirez
but remained in the game.
Tonight’s performance was the most runs given up in an extra
inning in Mets franchise history. Five
of the six runs were earned, giving the Mets back to back nights in which their
bullpen gave up five or more runs in an extra inning. The bullpen’s total ERA now sits at an
appalling 5.16, easily the worst in the majors.
Chris Young was able to give the Mets a strong start even if
the beginning was rocky. Young
surrendered a leadoff single to Steve Lombardozzi to start the first and then
followed that up by serving up a two-run homerun to Bryce Harper. Young would allow one more hit that inning
then go on to retire 14 Nationals in a row.
Young matched a season high throwing seven innings, giving
the Mets the exact performance they need from their starters if they expect to
have any change at the post season.
Young finished the game with a final line of seven innings pitched,
three hits, two earned runs, three walks and seven strikeouts.
The Mets were able to answer for Young, showing some power
of their own with two solo homeruns by David Wright in the fourth inning and
Ike Davis in the seventh inning.
Wright and Davis are tied for the team lead with 15 homeruns
each.
Jordany Valdespin hit in front of Wright tonight and
finished the night 0 for 4, but should expect to see lots of playing time in
the coming games in the outfield. He
figures to get a good look against right handed pitching with Lucas Duda being
rumored to be sent down to clear space for Matt Harvey.
Ruben Tejada was able to get back on track, getting three
hits tonight in his four at-bats. Daniel
Murphy also stayed hot, getting two hits of his own in his four at bats.
Next up for the Mets and Nationals is a re-match of
All-Stars from last week in D.C. between R.A. Dickey (13-1, 3.32 ERA) and Gio
Gonzalez (12-5, 3.32 ERA). The Mets were
able to get their only win of the second half in this match-up last week 9-5.
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