Final score: Nationals 5, Mets 3—Mets can’t overcome Matz stinker

After snapping a five-game losing streak last night, the Mets quickly reverted back to their losing ways with a 5-3 loss to the Washington Nationals. The main culprit for tonight’s defeat was Steven Matz, who followed a mediocre performance in his last start with a downright ugly one here. The nominal number two starter only lasted three innings and gave up five runs. Those runs came from solo homers in the first two innings off the bats of Howie Kendrick and Josh Harrison, respectively, followed by a three spot in the third inning.

The bullpen subsequently came on and did a surprisingly solid job at keeping the game close, as Paul Sewald, Jeurys Familia, Dellin Betances, and Edwin Diaz combined to throw five shutout innings. Alas, the Mets—as has often been the case so far this season—struggled to get the big hits when they needed it. They did benefit from a two-run bomb from Michael Conforto in the fourth and an RBI single from Pete Alonso in the fifth, but they nevertheless went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left ten men on base. That, combined with Matz’s clunker and a rain delay that delayed the inevitable loss for over an hour, made for yet another frustrating defeat.

Full recap to follow.

GameThread Roll Call

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

1. MetsFan4Decades: 119
2. stickguy: 61
3. The Glider: 35
4. IPA: 30
5. elephants gerald: 26
6. feslenraster: 26
7. olderfan62: 22
8. LouMonte7: 21
9. AnneInFlushing: 21
10. BK_Machetero3191: 19