Mets Fall 12–6 After Nats’ Six-Run Ninth
The Mets (11–9) dropped Monday evening’s Grapefruit League matchup against the Nationals (12–7), falling 12–6 at Clover Park.
In a back-and-forth affair featuring multiple lead changes, the Mets’ bullpen ultimately proved to be the difference, allowing eight runs over the final two innings – including six in the ninth – as Washington pulled away late.
David Peterson got the start for New York and ran into early trouble in the first inning. After a leadoff single and two walks put runners on the bases, Washington capitalized with a two-run double to take an early 2-0 lead.
The Mets responded immediately in the bottom; Carson Benge worked a leadoff walk and later scored on an RBI double from Francisco Alvarez to get New York on the board. Ronny Mauricio followed with an RBI double of his own to tie the game at 2-2.
Cristian Pache gave the Mets their first lead in the second inning, launching a solo homer to left-center to make it 3-2. New York added another run in the third when Mauricio singled home Jared Young, extending the lead to 4-2.
Washington answered in the fourth. Peterson allowed back-to-back one-out singles before a two-run single tied the game at four. The inning ended the starter’s night after four innings, in which he allowed four runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Devin Williams followed with a scoreless inning in relief, working around a walk while recording a strikeout.
With Christian Scott on the mound for New York in the sixth, Washington moved ahead again. A leadoff triple later came around to score on a wild pitch to make it 5-4, and a solo home run in the seventh extended the Nationals’ lead to 6-4.
The Mets mounted another rally in the eighth. Jared Young singled to lead off the inning, and after pinch-runner Trace Willhoite entered, Christian Arroyo launched a two-run homer to left field to tie the game at six.
Scott remained on the mound to start the ninth and allowed a leadoff double before being lifted for Douglas Orellana. The next batter delivered an RBI double to give Washington a 7-6 lead, with the run charged to Scott.
Unfortunately for Orellana, the inning unraveled from there. Orellana hit the next batter with a pitch and then threw a wild pitch that allowed another run to score. A walk followed before a two-run single extended the lead to 10-6, and two more RBI singles capped the scoring as Washington pushed their lead to 12–6.
The six-run inning was too much for the Mets to recover from, with just one hit – a double from Kevin Villavicencio – in the bottom of the ninth before surrendering to the National League East foes.
ON DECK
The Mets will face off against the Marlins (8-12) Tuesday afternoon at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The starters for both teams are still TBD.
The first pitch is set for 1.10 p.m.
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