The New York Mets (30-36) lost to the Washington Nationals (41-26) 7-2 on Friday night at Citi Field. The loss puts the Mets 10.5 games behind the Nationals in the National League East.
Pitching
Steven Matz (1-0, 1.29 ERA) took the mound for the Mets looking to continue the success he found in his first start of the season. Like his last start, he went seven innings, but unlike his last start he did not give up only one run. Matz gave up four runs, eight hits, and no walks while striking out four.
Matz struggled with the keeping the ball in the yard as all four runs he allowed scored on three homers.
Paul Sewald pitched the eighth inning and got out unscathed after allowing two baserunners with one out.
Fernando Salas came into the game for the ninth inning and gave up two runs on three hits and two walks. Salas loaded the bases before being replaced by Neil Ramirez. Ramirez immediately walked in a run with the bases loaded before getting the final out of the inning. All three runs were charged to Salas who now sports a 6.14 ERA on the season.
Offense
The Mets faced the reigning Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (7-4, 2.36 ERA) on Friday and were stifled by him. The offense only mustered one run and eight baserunners on four hits, two walks, and two hit batsmen against him.
The Mets’ first run came in the eighth inning on a Jose Reyes solo shot to right field.
Jay Bruce followed with a solo homer of his own in the ninth inning.
Matz, Reyes, and Bruce were the only Mets with hits. Bruce and Reyes led the offense with two hits, one home run, one run, and one RBI each.
On Deck
The Mets continue their four-game series with the Nationals on Saturday afternoon. Seth Lugo (1-0, 1.29 ERA) will make his second start of the season and will be opposed by Stephen Strasburg (7-2, 3.27 ERA) for the Nationals. The game will be televised on PIX 11 with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 PM.
