The New York Mets (47-38) were defeated by the Washington Nationals (52-36) by a score of 3-1 at Citi Field Friday evening. The Mets now fall to 4 games back of the Nationals for the division lead.
Pitching:
Noah Syndergaard was on the hill tonight and he was a little shaky. After the game was delayed due to rain, Syndergaard seemed to uncharacteristically struggle with his control at times. He was eventually removed from the game with what appeared to be some sort of arm discomfort. Syndergaard pitched 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on three hits, walking three, and striking out five.
After a dominant first inning, Syndergaard got stung a bit in the top of the second. Following a Wilson Ramos single, Clint Robinson crushed his fifth home run of the year over the right field wall giving the Nats the early 2-0 lead. It was Robinson’s second home run in as many days against the Mets.
In the top of the third, Jayson Werth singled on a line drive to center field. Daniel Murphy was next and he would not disappoint. Murphy crushed a double into the gap to score Jayson Werth and give the Nats the 3-0 lead. To make matters worse, Cespedes pulled up lame on the play jumping to get the ball and landing awkwardly. It resulted in him being removed from the game.
Seth Lugo replaced the Nordic God of Thunder and did a real nice job. Lugo pitched two scoreless innings keeping the Mets in the game.
Jerry Blevins came in to face one batter in the bottom of the seventh and struck out his man. Blevins came back out again in the top of the eighth and pitched a real nice scoreless inning. He struck out three hitters on the night.
Erik Goeddel came in and pitched a scoreless ninth.
Offense:
Stephen Strasburg was on the mound for the Nats and he was cooking tonight. The Mets offense had come into this game red hot but seemingly ran into a buzz saw. Strasburg coolly carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning.
In the top of the fifth, Asdrubal Cabrera lead off with his 12th home run of the year to cut the score to 3-1. Brandon Nimmo would follow Cabrera with a single to left field. Strasburg would get himself under control and not allow another hit again through seven. Strasburg went seven innings allowing only two hits and striking out nine.
As soon as Strasburg was finally out of the game, the Mets offense appeared to get going again. Wilmer Flores, who wasn’t in the starting lineup again, led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a ground rule double off right-hander Shawn Kelley to get things started.
Jose Reyes followed with a single putting runners at the corners with nobody out. Dusty Baker went to Oliver Perez to get Curtis Granderson and Perez got his man to pop up for the first out of the inning. Baker again made a switch, this time going to Blake Treinen. Treinen ended the threat, getting Juan Lagares to hit into a inning ending double play. Ugh!
Jonathan Papelbon made quick work of the Mets in the ninth, recording his 18th save.
Notes:
Noah Syndergaard was removed from the game in the fourth inning in what is now being called arm fatigue. Noah Syndergaard’s All-Star start may now be in jeopardy.
Yoenis Cespedes was removed from the game with an apparent quad injury. Yoenis Cespedes’s All-Star start may now be in jeopardy.
Matt Harvey announced he will undergo season ending Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery today.
Bartolo Colon was added to the All-Star roster, replacing Madison Bumgarner.
On Deck:
The Mets will play their third game of a four game series with the Washington Nationals tomorrow night at Citi Field. The game has a start time of 7:15 PM. Logan Verrett (3-5, 4.01 ERA) will look to get the Mets back on track against right hander Max Scherzer (9-6 3.21 ERA).
