Mets and Nationals each took one game a piece in their first meeting after the All-Star Break. This afternoon’s rubber match was a huge game for the Mets. A win today held the difference between being one game back or three.
Noah Syndergaard didn’t have his best stuff today. He lacked command of his pitches, had a tight strike zone and was totaling high pitch counts during every inning.
The Mets offense showed up again this afternoon. In the top of the fourth, Kirk Nieuwenhuis doubled to left field scoring Ruben Tejada and Daniel Murphy. Kevin Plawecki held the next at bat and singled to center field scoring Nieuwenhuis. Nationals would match the Mets’ scoring in the next half inning. Michael Taylor, how drove in three of the four Nationals runs, singles to left field and scores Ian Desmond.
Syndergaard took care of business in the bottom of the fifth and finishes the inning at 97 pitches. That would mark his last inning of work. Syndergaard’s final line: 5 IP, 5 BB, 1 ER, 4 K’s. Five walks in a game was a career high for Syndergaard.
Hansel Robles entered the game, relieving Syndergaard in the top of the sixth inning. Robles got into trouble quickly allowing the first two batters to reach base. After a sacrifice bunt by Zimmerman, Robles struck out Taylor and induced a ground ball from Danny Espinosa. No harm, no foul.
Jenrry Mejia takes over for the Mets and Matt Thornton for Nationals for the 7th. Both pitchers worked quickly in their innings.
Bobby Parnell takes over in the 8th and this is where things fell apart. After taking care of the first batter, Parnell walked Ian Desmond and allowed a base hit to Matt den Dekker. With two outs, a 2-2 count and facing Michael Taylor, Parnell threw a wild pitch, allowing the runners to advance to 2nd and 3rd base. Following pitch, Taylor hits a 2-run RBI single. Taylor stole second base and on the following pitch, Danny Espinosa smacked an RBI-double, scoring Taylor. Parnell surrendered three runs allowing the Nationals to take 4-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning.
“That’s all on me. That’s not on Bobby,” said Terry Collins on Bobby Parnell in the 8th.
Drew Storen came in for the save and struck out the side to capture the rubber match for the Nationals.
Noah Syndergaard remains winless on the road and gets a no-decision. Bobby Parnell gets the loss for this afternoon’s game. Mets finish the series 49-46 and three games behind the Washington Nationals in the National League East.
“We have to face one of the best pitchers in baseball tomorrow. We can’t get down. We have to get ready for him [Kershaw],” said Terry Collins on the state of the team after this afternoon’s devastating loss. Terry Collins also mentioned that he wants Michael Cuddyer in the game tomorrow. So the team will wait for an update on his health.
Mets probable’s against the Dodgers:
7/23 – Clayton Kershaw (7-6, 2.68 ERA) vs. Bartolo Colon (9-8, 4.86 ERA)
7/24 – Zack Greinke (9-2, 1.30 ERA) vs. Jonathan Niese (5-8, 3.86 ERA)
7/25 – Dodgers TBD vs. Matt Harvey (8-7, 3.19 ERA)
Personal Thoughts:
The loss hurts more than others. Mets had an opportunity to close out a slow, but hard fought baseball game and be within one game of the Nationals in the division. And with the Mets heading back home to face Kershaw and Greinke in the first two games of a three game series against the Dodgers, the Mets could have really used a series win against the Nationals.
Thor lacked command of his pitches and had to manage a tight strike zone today but only managed to give up one run, which was very encouraging. Syndergaard gave up five walks today, which is a career high.
Read constantly that Terry Collins should have brought in Jeurys Familia for a 4-out save after Parnell had given up the first two runs and I don’t completely agree with that. Theres obviously logical reasoning behind it, but ever since coming back from Tommy John surgery, Parnell has pitched very well and only needed to get one more out. Leave him in the game and allow Parnell to get out a jam, hopefully with the game tied at three. Unfortunately, TC’s decision didn’t pan out, and as expected he took full blame for it.
Let’s hope the Mets can shake this game off quickly because they will need to be clicking on all cylinders to pull off wins against two of the best pitchers in the game.
