The New York Mets (37-54) fell to the Washington Nationals (47-46) 5-4 on Thursday night at Citi Field.

Pitching

Steven Matz (4-7, 3.38 ERA) toed the rubber for the Mets in this game looking to continue his solid production as of late. While he ending up delivering a quality start, things did not start off well for the southpaw.

In the first inning he gave up two runs on an Anthony Rendon home run. He gave up two more hits in the second inning before giving up his third and final run off another Rendon homer in the third inning. His day ended after going 6 1/3 innings and giving up eight hits, three runs and two walks, while striking out four.

Tim Peterson replaced Matz in the seventh after he struck out Juan Soto to start off the inning. Peterson was then replaced by Jerry Blevins after he gave up one hit. Blevins helped solidified the Nats’ victory by promptly surrendering a two-run homer to Bryce Harper before recording the final two outs of the inning.

Jacob Rhame came on for the Mets in the eighth inning. He was able to limit the Nationals to one hit in a scoreless frame, and in doing so lowered his ERA from 6.59 to 6.14.

Jeurys Familia pitched the ninth in a non-save situation. He struck out two in a 1-2-3 inning.

Offense

The Mets were able to score three runs off Max Scherzer (12-5, 2.41 ERA) and one run off the Nationals’ bullpen.

After the Nationals scored two runs in the top of the first, the Mets were able to get one run back in the bottom of the inning as Asdrubal Cabrera doubled and Jose Bautista drove him in with a RBI single.

Bautista helped provide the Mets with more offense in the fourth as he led off the inning with a solo homer to center field.

Kevin Plawecki put the Mets within two runs of the Nationals with a solo shot of his own in the seventh inning. His homer was only the second of 2018 and the ninth of his career.

Cabrera hit the Mets’ third solo home run of the game in the eighth inning to make it a 5-4 game in the Nationals’ favor.

Overall Mets batters combined for seven hits and four walks on the night.

On Deck

Noah Syndergaard (4-1, 3.06 ERA) will make his return to the mound tomorrow at 7:10 p.m. EDT for the first time since May 25. He will be opposed by Tanner Roark (3-11, 4.76 ERA) who leads the MLB in losses. The game can be seen on SNY and heard on 710 WOR.