The New York Mets (44-61) were defeated by the Washington Nationals (54-53) by a score of 5-3 and got swept in this two-game series down in the Nation’s capital. At least they didn’t lose by 21 today.

Pitching

Noah Syndergaard returned from his hand, foot, and mouth disease to make this start. The righty gave up a two-out RBI single to Bryce Harper and a two-run homer to Anthony Rendon in the third but that was essentially it.

He retired 12 in a row at one point and also retired 15 of the last 16 Nationals to face him. He pitched seven innings when all was said and done. He also threw just 91 pitches and might have pitched the eighth inning had he not just returned from injury. Have to be pretty pleased with his outing especially since the starter could not make it out of the first last night. Syndergaard’s final line was: 7 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, BB, 4 K.

Seth Lugo had some problems in the eighth and his defense added gasoline on the fire. He gave up two unearned runs in the inning thanks to errors by Wilmer Flores and Jose Reyes plus a double to Bryce Harper.

Offense

You can’t have high expectations for an offense when Austin Jackson is hitting second. You also can’t have low expectations when Tommy Milone is pitching against you. Yet, somehow the Mets found a way to make Milone look like Jacob deGrom.

The Mets had a couple of hits in the third inning but could not get a run in. Their offense came from their new reliever, Jose Reyes. Reyes homered in the fifth inning and the eighth inning of the game. I really don’t know when a guy ever hit two HR in a game the night after he pitched. Watch out Shohei Ohtani.

Wilmer Flores homered in the ninth inning of Kelvin Hererra for the Mets third run of the game. Michael Conforto doubled in the next at-bat and Jose Bautista followed it up with a walk to put the winning run at the plate. However, Brandon Nimmo grounded into a first-pitch double play to end the game.

On Deck

The Mets return home to face the Atlanta Braves tomorrow at 7:10 p.m. Jason Vargas (2-6, 8.36 ERA) will take the mound against a yet to be determined starter for Atlanta.