The New York Mets (2-1) were defeated by the Washington Nationals (1-2) by a score of 6-5 Sunday at Nationals Park in Washington. Patrick Corbin limited the Mets to two runs over six innings, and despite a late-inning comeback attempt, Trea Turner would walk off with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Offense

The Mets bats were like a dripping faucet, tallying hits but not too many runs, until the pipe broke in the top of the 8th to tie the game at five apiece at the time.

The third inning saw Brandon Nimmo line a one-out single, his first hit of the year. That was followed up by Pete Alonso who drove him in from first base with a double, his second hit of the day and third double of the young season. The next action would surface in the 6th inning when J.D. Davis led off the frame with a double. A Michael Conforto single put runners on first and third with nobody out.

Amed Rosario then grounded into a nicely-turned double play, which scored the run from second base. Keon Broxton then singled for his second hit of the day, but the inning would end soon after with no more runs scoring.

A few hits here and there amounted to almost nothing against Patrick Corbin, who allowed two earned runs on seven hits, two walks, and four strikeouts in his Nationals debut.

Down 5-2 entering the 8th inning, the Mets needed to capitalize on their limited remaining chances. Robinson Cano led off the inning against lefty Tony Sipp, and after a J.D. Davis pop out, Michael Conforto lined a single of his own to put runners on first and third with one out. Trevor Rosenthal was brought in to face Amed Rosario and couldn’t get the job done, as Rosario lined a single which scored Cano and put runners on first and second.

Now with a 5-3 score, the Nationals turned to their closer Sean Doolittle for a five-out save. He was able to strike newly entered Jeff McNeil out swinging for the second out, but his next two pitches were hit for singles by Wilson Ramos and Juan Lagares, evening the game at five apiece. With Ramos on second and Lagares on first, pinch hitter Dominic Smith popped out to Anthony Rendon to end the frame.

Needing an insurance run or two in the top of the ninth inning, all the Mets could muster was a Robinson Cano single. That was their last hit of the day.

Pete Alonso kept hitting today as he went 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI double. Cano, Conforto, and Broxton (who also had tow stolen bases) registered two hits each.

Pitching

Zack Wheeler started for the Mets and while he pitched in and out of trouble all game, it was one swing by Trea Turner that really made the difference – a three-run home run in the third inning. Overall, Wheeler went five innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts. He sat 97-98 with his fastball all game and showed great life on all his pitches. Command was an issue, but as it’s just the first game of the season, it’s not even close to panic time yet.

Robert Gsellman came in for long relief in the sixth inning and was less than effective, allowing one earned run on three hits in one-and-a-third innings of work. Luis Avilan faced two batters in his Mets debut, allowing one hit and striking out the other. Tim Peterson retired the only batter he faced to end the seventh inning.

Justin Wilson was brought in for the eighth inning and was brilliant, retiring the side via a groundout and two strikeouts. With a tie game in the bottom of the ninth inning, Wilson was left in the game to face lefty Adam Eaton who he got to fly out to right field. Then, instead of bringing in Jeurys Familia to face righties Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon, Mets manager Mickey Callaway kept Wilson in the game.

With a full count, Trea Turner lined a walk-off home run over the left field wall, handing the Mets their first loss of the season. It was Turner’s second home run of the day.

On Deck

The Mets travel down to Miami Monday and will send Steven Matz to the hill to face off against Marlins starter Caleb Smith. The lefty-lefty matchup will start at 7:10 p.m. ET, the first night game of the season.