Game Recap: Mets Bullpen Implodes in Extras Again in 8-2 Loss

The Mets found themselves down 2-0 after Chris Young was seven pitches into a night that ended up being a soggy one at Citi Field, but after that, he was flawless, allowing the offense time to get themselves back into the ballgame. However, it was another implosion by the bullpen in extra innings that sent the Mets to their fourth straight loss.

Mets Offensive Highlights:

The offense struggled for most of the night; Ruben Tejada collected three more hits in the leadoff spot and stayed in the game after getting spiked by Roger Bernadina in the late innings, but once Tejada led off the bottom of the first with a single, no one was able to get on base until he came up for his second at-bat and singled again. The Mets were finally able to break through in the bottom of the fourth, as David Wright his his 15th home run of the season into the Party City Deck out in left center field. Then in the seventh, Ike Davis hooked ball down the right field line that hit the foul pole, tying up the game. That was all New York could muster, as Jordany Valdespin took an 0-fer in the two-hole, hitting the ball sharply a couple times, but right at Nats fielders. Jason Bay also came up late in the game with Daniel Murphyat second base, but couldn’t bring him in either time.

Nationals Offensive Highlights:

Washington got out to a quick lead, as Steve Lombardozzi hit an infield single to lead the game off, followed by a Byrce Harper home run to right center field. However, after collecting three hits in the first inning alone, the Nationals wouldn’t put another hit on the board until Adam LaRoche‘s single in the top of the ninth. The six-run tenth started with a Bernadina single, then Sandy Leon hit a comebacker to Tim Byrdak, but Tejada couldn’t handle the throw, putting two men on. Lombardozzi singled off Pedro Beato to load the bases, then all hell broke loose, again. Harper singled in the go-ahead run, followed by a three-run double off the bat of Ryan Zimmerman. As if that wasn’t enough, Michael Morse hit a two-run homer to right center field to really put the game out of reach for New York.

Pitching Highlights:

Chris Young followed up his solid performance last week against Washington with another one, throwing 7 innings and giving up 3 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Behind him, Josh Edgin, Jon Rauch, and Bobby Parnell provided scoreless relief. Byrdak and Beato got hit hard with the 10th inning runs, and Elvin Ramirez got the final two outs as the damage was already done.

Jordan Zimmermann provided yet another quality start for Davey Johnson, throwing 6 innings and giving up 4 hits, 1 run, no walks, and 6 strikeouts. Drew Storen came in to throw 0.1 of an inning, but it was Mike Gonzalez that blew the late-game lead. Ryan Mattheus and Tom Gorzelanny followed Gonzalez with 2.2 scoreless of relief to shut the door on the Mets.

Worth Noting:

In addition to Tejada, Daniel Murphy also recorded a multi-hit game. New York had limited chances with runners in scoring position, but went 0-for-4 in such opportunities. The Mets are now two games under .500 at 47-49, and while Sandy Alderson hasn’t said they will become sellers, but he has said that the front office is exploring various trade scenarios and evaluating their worth to the organization for this season and beyond.

Just in case you’re still keeping track, the Mets are now 9.5 games behind the first-place Nationals and 5.5 games out of the second Wild Card spot in the National League. It was pretty clear that on Star Wars night, the force was not with the Amazins.

Probable Pitchers Tuesday:

It will be a rematch of last week’s series finale in Washington, as the Nationals will once again run out Gio Gonzalez (12-5, 3.32 ERA), hoping that he will fare better against R.A. Dickey (13-1, 2.84 ERA) than he did last week. First pitch at Citi Field is scheduled for 7:10pm.