The Mets 16-4 loss against the Nationals on Monday was painful to say the very least. Steven Matz started off the game without any issues but unraveled quickly allowing five runs in the second and third innings, three of which were due to home runs. With the Mets bullpen unable to limit the damage, the game reached the point of return by the sixth inning. The game finished with a surprise appearance from infielder Luis Guillorme who pitched a scoreless ninth inning. Maybe the damage wouldn’t have been as severe if the Mets bats weren’t in a legitimate slumber not managing to get a single run over the course of the first five innings, eventually scoring in the sixth with two runs driven in by Pete Alonso and Michael Conforto respectively. 

Pitching

Steven Matz started tonight’s game solidly, managing to get through the top of the first unscathed. Yet the score was broken open by former Met Asdrubal Cabrera in the top of the second on a single home run. Matz was able to limit the damage in the second but was not able to regain his composure going into the third.

Matz gave up four runs in the third, after allowing a single to Yan Gomes, Trea Turner homered to left bringing in Gomes ahead of him. Starlin Castro then struck out swinging but made it to first on a wild pitch from Matz. Castro was eventually brought in on a two-run home run from Juan Soto as Matz struggled to retire a batter. After getting through the fourth without a hitch, Matz was relieved by Paul Sewald in the fifth after Matz allowed two singles and a double which brought in one run. He exited the game with the Nationals up by six runs. With Matz’s final line being 8 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 3 HR over 4.1 innings pitched, much of Matz’s issues were due to poor location on his fastball. His ERA up to 5.65. 

While Paul Sewald was not dealt an easy hand entering the game with bases loaded and one out, he was unable to get through the inning without allowing more damage. Sewald allowed five hits in the fifth as well as a hit batsman . Including the sacrifice fly from Josh Harrison, Sewald allowed seven runs bringing the score to 12-0 making the Mets’ possibility for a come back slim to none. In his outing, Sewald allowed a single to Howie Kendrick, double to Cabrera, as well as singles to Carter Keiboom and Yan Gomes. Sewald then allowed one hit to Victor Robles and two walks in the sixth before exiting the game with Chasen Schreve taking his place. 

Chasen Shreve came into the game with bases loaded and one out and was not given any room for error. Shreve despite allowing two runs on a walk to Gomes and single to Victor Robles bringing the score to 14-0, but Shreve managed to make it out of the sixth without any other issues. Going into the seventh, Shreve allowed an opposite-field double to Michael A. Taylor as the pitcher started to lose some command of his pitches falling behind in the count. Schreve proceeded to allow a two-out, two-run home run from Cabrera who was having a hot night, bringing the score to 16-2. 

Drew Smith had yet another solid inning in the eighth retiring the Nats quickly without a change in score.

Infielder Luis Guillorme was brought in to close in the ninth and managed to make it out of the side unscathed with some help from the Mets defense.

 

Offense

After going through five scoreless innings, the Mets finally were able to break through in the bottom of the sixth. First,  J.D. Davis was walked as Jeff McNeil stepped up to the plate managing a single past the pitcher. Davis was then brought home on an error from pitcher Patrick Corbin  moving Alonso to first base. McNeil was eventually brought home on a single from Michael Conforto bringing the score to 14-2.

The bats made a quick resurgence in the bottom of the eighth as Davis was hit by a pitch. McNeil and Alonso both singled with Alonso’s hit pushing Davis in bringing the Mets score up a run. The inning ended on a double play, the score holding at 16-3.

Brandon Nimmo started off the bottom of the ninth with a bang hitting a solo home run to centerfield to make the score 16-4. The game ended on a line drive from Amed Rosario, the final score being 16-4.

On Deck

The Mets will start Rick Porcello (1-1, 6.92 ERA) on the mound to take on the three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (0-1, 3.29 ERA) for the second game against the Washington Nationals at 7:10 PM EST on Tuesday.

The game will be televised on SNY and broadcast on WCBS 880 AM.