The Mets lost to the Nationals tonight by a score of 6-4 at Citi Field. Matt Harvey started the game and was, of course, fantastic, pitching 7 innings of 1-run ball and striking out 11 Washington hitters. Ross Detwiler was pretty good as well for the Nationals, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) in 5 innings of work.
The Mets struck first in the bottom of the fourth when David Wright scored on a throwing error by Ian Desmond. However, the Mets squandered a great chance to tack on more runs, as John Buck, Omar Quintanilla, and Matt Harvey failed to get the runners in from second and third following Desmond’s blunder.
After Desmond broke up Harvey’s perfect game with a game-tying solo shot in the fifth, the Mets quickly took the lead once again in the bottom half of the inning on RBI hits from Marlon Byrd and Josh Satin. After Harvey finished off his night with a scoreless seventh, the Mets got some insurance with another RBI hit from Satin, and the game seemed well in hand.
However, everything fell apart for the Mets in the top of the 8th. After David Aardsma retired 2 batters following a leadoff single, Terry Collins pulled him for Josh Edgin, who promptly gave up a double and was taken out. Brandon Lyon came in, and walked Anthony Rendon to load the bases. Rather than bring in Parnell with 2 out, Collins left Lyon out there, and Ryan Zimmerman tied the score with a bases-clearing double, handing Harvey yet another no-decision and taking Detwiler off the hook.
After their 9th inning rally, the Nationals got to Bobby Parnell for 2 runs in the 9th on a Desmond double and a sacrifice fly from Kurt Suzuki, and the Mets were unable to mount a comeback in the 9th, giving the Nationals a 6-4 win.
Harvey has been incredible to watch this season. He was once again dominant, and it is no longer a surprise when he flirts with a perfect game or a no-hitter for 4 or 5 innings. However, he seemed to tire fairly quickly (by his standards), and had to be pulled after 7 innings. The bullpen had been better lately, but Terry’s inexplicable decision to pull Aardsma got the wheels going for the Nationals, who pounced on our other relievers to steal this game from us. Parnell was uncharacteristically flat with his pitches tonight, and gave the Nationals no trouble at all in the 9th.
Byrd has been great lately, but he is not part of the future. His trade value is going up and he should probably be moved. Young had another exciting play today when he flashed his terrific speed to score from first on Byrd’s double. He might be part of the future, and the Mets should continue to give him consistent playing time.
Overall, Harvey Day was fun while the star of the show was on the stage, but once he came out, the bottom fell out and that led to another disappointing loss for our Mets.
The Mets (32-44) will try to even their series with the Nationals (40-39) tomorrow at Citi Field (1:10 PM). Dillon Gee (5-7. 4.82 ERA) will take on Taylor Jordan, who will be making his major league debut.
