Mets Suffer Gut Punch 5-3 Loss To Nationals

The 2025 New York Mets may have been defined in Saturday’s loss to the Washington Nationals. It was a loss that could, in the end, cost them a postseason berth when they look back on this season after next week. In their 5-3 loss to Washington, New York hurt themselves with errors on defense earlier in the game, and on offense, leaving countless runners on base, which showed a lot in the 9th and 10th innings. Nolan McLean pitched fine (even though he made an error), and the bullpen was overall good and kept New York in the game, but the lack of a big hit after the ninth-inning comeback wasn’t there. New York is 0-66 when trailing in the 8th and 9th innings.

Offense comes up short in extras

After scoring 12 runs yesterday, the Mets’ offense struggled with runners in scoring position. The Mets were 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position in the loss. In the bottom of the first inning, Brandon Nimmo popped out with Pete Alonso on second. In the third inning, Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto reached base for Alonso. Alonso blooped it to right field, but Nasim Nuñez made a great diving play, and then Nimmo grounded out. In the fifth, Alonso flew out with two men on. After the Mets got two runners to score to make it 3-2 Nationals on a Mark Vientos RBI double, Francisco Alvarez struck out.

Then, in the ninth, Soto tied it on a bloop single. The Mets had first and second with one out for Alonso, but the Mets doublestealed with Soto and Lindor, and it took the bat out of Alonso’s hands as Washington walked him. Nimmo and Marte would strike out with the bases loaded. In the tenth with two on and no outs, Alvarez grounded into a double play, and Ronny Mauricio flew out. In the tenth, Soto capped it all off by striking out looking. The Mets’ offense left 13 runners on base, and their struggles with runners in scoring position remain unsolved. 

Bad Mets Fundies

Saturday was a day to forget about for the Mets’ defense. After a Dylan Crews single to lead off the inning, Riley Adams got a base hit to right field, and the ball went right by Soto’s glove, and it scored Crews to make it 2-0 Nationals. Brady House reached base on another Pete Alonso throwing error to the pitcher covering first base. After McLean struck out two batters, McLean threw a wild pitch that scored Crews. Defense hurt the Mets again in the tenth on Daylen Lile‘s two runs inside the park home run that Cedric Mullins misplayed. 

No Trumpets in the Tenth?

One of the biggest questions of this game was why Carlos Mendoza didn’t put in Edwin Díaz in the tenth after a 7-pitch ninth? Mendoza said Díaz was only available for one inning because he pitched two games, and he warmed up in the bullpen during Friday’s game. Instead, Mendoza went to Rogers, who allowed the inside-the-park home run to Lile.

Player of the Game: Nolan McLean

It wasn’t the best game for McLean, but he still pitched well and only allowed one earned run. McLean went five innings with six strikeouts. His ERA is 1.27.

On Deck

It’ll be a must-win game for the Mets on Sunday in the home finale as Sean Manaea will start with Clay Holmes coming in after for the Mets. Jake Irvin will pitch for the Nationals. The game will be at 1:40 pm EDT and telecast locally on SNY and broadcast on WHSQ 880AM.

 

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