Game Recap: Wright and Bay Homers Not Enough as Mets Lose 4-3

After five straight losses and their last win coming over a week and a half ago before the All-Star break, Terry Collins felt it was time to have a closed door meeting. The Mets received another great pitching performance from Chris Young, but the offense provided too little, too late in an effort to break their skid.

Mets Offensive Highlights:

En route to his MLB-leading 17th quality start of the season, Jordan Zimmerman pitched a great ballgame, silencing the Mets until he exited for the showers. The first scoring rally happened in the top of the 7th; Lucas Duda doubled to right center and Andres Torres singled him in with two outs, but the inning ended as Torres was thrown out trying to advance to second base on the throw home. The bats were silent again until the 9th inning, when David Wright hit a solo homer to right center on the first pitch he saw from Tyler Clippard. Then, Jason Bay slugged one off the foul pole in left field to bring the Mets within one. Collins tried to find more magic in Jordany Valdespin‘s bat with two out in the 9th, but it wasn’t enough, as Clippard threw a changeup that fooled ‘Spin this time around to end the game. The story of the game was

stranding runners in scoring position; the Mets went 1-for-8 as a team with RISP, ultimately leading them to their demise in this ballgame.

Nationals Offensive Highlights:

Like Zimmerman, Chris Young pitched a great ballgame, shutting out the Nats until the 6th inning. The third time around the batting order bit Young in the behind once again, as Bryce Harper singled and Adam LaRoche clubbed his 16th homer of the year with two outs in the inning, initially giving Washington a 2-0 lead. They added insurance in the 7th that proved big for the second straight night; Jesus Flores and Roger Bernadina both singled off Miguel Batista, then Steve Lombardozzi doubled in both runs to extend the lead to 4-1 at the time.

Pitching Highlights:

This well-pitched contest started with Jordan Zimmerman on the mound. He went 6 scoreless innings, giving up 4 hits, no walks, and 4 strikeouts. Tom Gorzelanny and Sean Burnett both pitched a scoreless inning in relief, and Tyler Clippard came on to get his 15th save of the year, despite giving up two solo home runs.

Chris Young gave the Mets their second straight solid performance from the starting rotation, as he also went 6 innings, but gave up 2 runs on 6 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 2 hitters. Batista gave up 2 runs in relief, but Josh Edgin continues to be effective, as he bailed the 41-year-old out of the inning. Jon Rauch showed no ill effects from getting his knees drained yesterday, throwing a scoreless 8th inning with 2 strikeouts.

Worth Noting:

Bay and Wright were the only two Mets hitters to enjoy multi-hit games, as Lucas Duda and Ike Davis both struck out twice in the middle of the lineup. Before this series, Tyler Clippard hadn’t given up a home run all year, and now he’s given up three in two games.

This is the sixth straight loss for the Mets is their longest drought of the season, as they see themselves fall to 46-45 on the season, now 8 games behind the Nationals, and they start to feel the Marlins breathe down their necks.

Probable Pitchers Thursday:

The Mets will do all they can to salvage the finale of this three-game set, as Terry Collins is sending knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (12-1, 2.66 ERA) to the mound to face off against fellow NL All-Star Gio Gonzalez (12-4, 2.93 ERA). First pitch at Nationals Park is scheduled for 12:35pm.