Despite a solid starting pitching performance and more positive signs from their young position players, the Mets’ bullpen could not hold on to a 2-0 lead entering the seventh inning on Wednesday, falling to the Nationals 3-2 on a walk-off hit by the Nats’ Jacob Young. With the win, the Nats salvaged a split in the two-game set with the Mets, the final time the two teams will play this season.

The Mets got a terrific start from the recently-recalled José Butto, on Wednesday, who limited the Nationals to two runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings to go along with six strikeouts.

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Unfortunately for Butto, despite exiting the game with a 2-0 lead, Trevor Gott allowed both of his inherited runners to score on RBI hits from Ildemaro Vargas and CJ Abrams in the seventh. Still, it was an extremely promising start for the Mets’ young right-hander, by far the best of his MLB career thus far.

With the game tied at two entering the bottom of the ninth, things got away quickly from Mets’ reliever Phil Bickford. After walking Carter Kieboom to lead off the inning, Bickford then hit Jake Alu to push the winning run into scoring position. Following a sac bunt, Young singled home the winning run to give the Nationals the victory.

Early on, the Mets got off to another hot start against Nats’ starter Joan Adon. After Brandon Nimmo doubled to lead off the game, Francisco Lindor drove him in with an RBI single to put the Mets up 1-0.

However, the Mets failed to capitalize on other scoring opportunities early in the game, which would later come back to bite them. New York left runners in scoring position to end the first, second, third, and fifth, and sixth innings, finishing just 2-12 overall with RISP in the defeat.

There were, however, promising signs from the Baby Mets on Wednesday, despite the loss.

Ronny Mauricio finished 2-4 on the day, adding a stolen base. He has now hit safely in five straight games to start his Mets career, the fifth Met to ever accomplish that feat.

Mark Vientos also notched an RBI single in the fifth for the Mets’ second run of the day. Vientos, who is starting to heat up with more regular playing time coming his way, has now hit safely in four consecutive games.

 

Player of the Game: José Butto

Butto was terrific, keeping the Nats off the board for six innings. He likely should have been done after that, as he looked tired entering the seventh. Despite the sour end to his day, Butto still had an excellent outing, and may have earned himself more opportunities at the big-league level before the season is over.

After the game, Mets manager Buck Showalter spoke about how impressed he was with Butto’s breakout performance.

On Deck

After an off day on Thursday, the Mets will travel to Minnesota to take on Carlos Correa and the first-place Minnesota Twins for the first of a three-game series on Friday at 8:10 p.m. ET.  Kodai Senga (10-7, 3.08 ERA) is expected to get the start against Minnesota’s Dallas Keuchel (1-1, 5.06 ERA).  Senga has not allowed more than three runs in a start since June 17, and is coming off of masterful seven-inning outing against the Seattle Mariners on Friday.

The Twins are essentially locked into the No. 3 spot in the American League playoffs, as long as they can hold off the Cleveland Guardians in the worst division in baseball. The Twins currently hold a six-game lead over Cleveland.

The game will be broadcast on SNY and the radio call will be on WCBS 880.