Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
The New York Mets (9-13) took home a 3-2 loss on Monday evening against the Washington Nationals (11-9). Overall, the game lacked offensive effort, as the team put up just two runs on seven hits and struck out 10 times. Despite Justin Verlander‘s shaky start, the bullpen showed promising signs as four relievers combined to allow just one run on one hit with nine strikeouts, and battled through several bases-loaded jams.
New York took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after Starling Marte knocked a one-out single, stole second, and was driven home by a Tommy Pham single on a fly ball to center.
The Nationals got the run back in the bottom half in the first when Justin Verlander walked Lane Thomas to lead off the inning, followed by a former-Met, Dominic Smith single that put runners on first and second. With one out, Corey Dickerson sent a double on a line drive to right field that scored Thomas to make it 1-1. Verlander stranded the pair of baserunners to limit the damage.
In the bottom of the fifth, Verlander walked the two leadoff batters and gave up another two-out walk to load the bases. After a mound visit, Verlander walked his fourth batter of the inning to allow a run without a hit in the inning and make it 2-1 Nationals, ending his outing. Verlander had no walks in his first three appearances this spring training, and walked six on the evening. The veteran tossed four and 2/3 innings with two hits and two runs allowed, with three strikeouts.
Zach Muckenhirn, who the Mets signed to a minor league deal this offseason, entered with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth and retired the side on a checked swing chopper back to the mound.
Dennis Santana threw a 1-2-3 sixth inning in his Mets debut. John Curtiss tossed the seventh and put two on base after walking Alex Call in the leadoff spot and surrendering a single to Lane Thomas with no outs. With no outs, Dom Smith gave Washington a 3-1 lead after he grounded into a fielder’s choice, and scored Call. Curtiss continued to struggle — after putting away his next two batters, he walked Keibert Ruiz to load the bases. Nathan Lavender took over for Curtiss and struck out Luis Garcia swinging.
Drew Smith struck out the side in the eighth.
In the ninth, the Mets had a leadoff baserunner with a Jonathan Araúz double and put the offense into scoring position for the first time since the second. Jose Peraza knocked a single to cut Washington’s lead to just one run, 3-2, and put the tying run at first. Unfortunately, the comeback attempt was unsuccessful and the Nats retired the next two batters to end the game.
Player of the Game: Dennis Santana
Reliever Dennis Santana tossed a scoreless inning without allowing a runner on base and striking out one in his Mets debut, as he looks to compete for a spot in the team’s bullpen. New York claimed the right-hander off of the waivers from the Minnesota Twins on March 17.
On Deck
It’s the last full week of spring training. The Mets (9-13) will be off on Tuesday and will face the Houston Astros (9-9) for their last Wednesday game, at home in Port St. Lucie.
