Final Score: Nationals 5, Mets 3 — Reyes’s revenge falls short

The Mets lost this afternoon to the Nationals 5-3 at Nationals Park. Noah Syndergaard made his first start since landing on the disabled list with Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease. Despite giving up three runs in his first three innings back — including a home run to Anthony Rendon — Syndergaard settled down and looked strong, going seven innings, striking our four, walking one, and giving up six hits.

Former Met Tommy Milone started for the Nationals, and kept the Mets under control, giving up only one run on three hits across seven innings, while walking none and striking out nine.

One of last night’s pitchers, Jose Reyes, was the offensive start of the game for the Mets today, hitting two solo home runs. Perhaps he was trying to exercise the demons of last night’s 24-5 trouncing. It didn’t work.

The final two runs of the game came off Seth Lugo in the bottom of the eighth inning, which began with — you guessed it — a Reyes error. Wilmer Flores added a solo shot in the top of the ninth, but even with a Michael Conforto double one batter later, it wasn’t enough.

Full recap to follow.

GameThread Roll Call

Nice job by MetsFan4Decades; her effort in the GameThread embiggens us all.

1. MetsFan4Decades: 103
2. stickguy: 78
3. amazins8669: 66
4. JR and the Off-Balance Shots: 62
5. AnneInFlushing: 36
6. brooklynberger: 35
7. Since the Polo Grounds: 26
8. alanotte: 26
9. Gina: 24
10. Kepler: 23