The Mets end their road trip with another loss in Washington

After an historic trouncing last night at the hands of the Nationals, the Mets lost a second game in a row to the Nats, this time a far more respectable 5-3.

Noah Syndergaard made his first start back from the disabled list, and was promptly greeted by a lead-off single by Adam Eaton. A Trea Turner fielder’s choice would erase Eaton, but Turner would then steal second and score on a Bryce Harper single, putting the Nationals up 1-0.

The Mets would not get a base runner until the third inning, when both Devin Mesoraco and Amed Rosario singled, though neither would score. Former Met Tommy Milone started for the Nationals, and looked much, much different than the Met who made five starts last year. Across his seven innings of work, he only gave up one run on three hits, walking none and striking out nine.

In the bottom of the third, Turner led off the inning with a double, and was eventually driven in by an Anthony Rendon two-run home run. That score would stand until the top of the fifth, when Jose Reyes, who entered the game to replace an injured Phillip Evans, hit a solo home run off Milone. Reyes would be the last base runner allowed by Milone.

Syndergaard, though not at his best, battled throughout the game, scattering six hits across his seven innings of work. After the Rendon homer in the third, Syndergaard would only allow one more hit, a single to Daniel Murphy, in the bottom of the seventh inning. Over his seven innings, Syndergaard struck out four, and walked one.

Reyes, doing his best impression of the Nats teeing off on him last night, hit a second solo home run in the top of the eighth inning off Ryan Madson, putting the Mets within a run. Reyes would then make a throwing error behind Seth Lugo in the first at bat in the bottom of the eighth. That runner, Turner, would wind up on third base after a Harper double. An intentional walk to Juan Soto, and the bases were loaded with one out for Matt Adams. A Wilmer Flores error would allow Turner to score, and the Nationals extended their lead. A Wilmer Difo sacricice fly would put the Nats up 5-2.

The top of the ninth brought some hope, with a Wilmer Flores solo home run bringing the Mets within 2 runs. A Michael Conforto double was followed by a Jose Bautista walk, putting two men on for Brandon Nimmo. Sadly, Nimmo grounded into a double play to end the game, and the Mets’ hope at a series split.

Tomorrow, the Mets begin a four game series with the Braves. Jason Vargas will face off against Mike Foltynewicz at Citi Field.

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hat’s WPA?

Big winners: Jose Reyes, +17.1% WPA
Big losers: Brandon Nimmo, -21.6% WPA, Austin Jackson, -10.8% WPA, Seth Lugo, -10.0% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Jose Reyes’s eighth inning home run, +11.9% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Bryce Harper’s RBI single in the first, -9.0 WPA
Total pitcher WPA: -13.4% WPA
Total batter WPA: -36.6% WPA
GWRBI!: Matt Adams