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New York Mets Lose Weekend Series To Washington Nationals

By Kenneth Teape

Jul 9, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets left fielder Alejandro De Aza (16) reacts after a called strike by umpire Jim Joyce (66) in the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. The Nationals won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 9, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets left fielder Alejandro De Aza (16) reacts after a called strike by umpire Jim Joyce (66) in the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. The Nationals won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Mets came up short again on Sunday afternoon, resulting in a loss in the weekend series against the Washington Nationals.

The New York Mets looked like they were going to get some retribution on the Washington Nationals this weekend. After being swept out of Nationals Park a little over a week ago, the Mets got off to a hot start this time around in the four-game series at Citi Field.

The Mets were hot, winning six of the first seven games on their homestand coming into the four-game series against the Nationals. The Mets were successful in the series opener, winning 9-7 as they hammered out 15 hits and continued their winning ways.

Unfortunately, that is all the Mets would get, as the Nationals would take control of the series after that and win the remaining three games of the series, including Sunday afternoon’s tilt 3-2.

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After scoring nine runs and totaling 15 hits in the series opener, the Mets were only able to scratch out four runs and 13 hits the next three games. That was not enough to get the job done, as the Mets will now head into the All-Star break six games behind the Nationals in the National League East and on a three-game losing streak, finishing their homestand about as poorly as you could.

Once again it was former Met Daniel Murphy delivering the big blow. Murphy has killed the Mets this season with a slash line of .438/.462/.875 in 48 at-bats, including six home runs, three doubles and 19 RBI. He would add to those stats on Sunday, as he hit a two-run home run in the first inning to stake the Nationals to an early lead.

Jose Reyes would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the first inning, as he led off the game for the Mets with a solo home run off Gio Gonzalez, his second since making his season debut on Tuesday.

Another Mets killer, Wilson Ramos, would get in on the party as he ripped a single to right field that scored Jayson Werth to give the Nationals a 3-1 lead.

That would be all the damage the Nationals would get against Steven Matz, who had a gusty performance on the mound for the Mets. Matz finished the game with seven innings pitched, surrendering those three runs on six hits and four walks, striking out five.

That Ramos RBI occurred in the third inning, and once again it was Reyes that would get the run back for the Mets. Reyes hit his second solo home run of the game, his eighth multi-homer game of his career.

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Unfortunately for the Mets, that would be all the damage they could get against Gonzalez, who made it through 5 2/3 innings, giving up the two runs on four hits and four walks to go with three strikeouts.

The Mets were even less successful against the bullpen, as Tanner Roark and Jonathan Papelbon shut the Mets down the remainder of the game. Roark threw 2 1/3 perfect innings, striking out two and needing only 25 pitches before Papelbon locked things down in the ninth inning.

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The Mets will now have a couple of days to rest before starting the second half of the season. They will begin it with a lengthy road trip, as they will be away for nine games against the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins before coming home to face off with the St. Louis Cardinals.

That will be an extremely important stretch of games for the Mets, as the series after the Phillies will be against teams they will battle for a playoff spot with throughout the summer. Also, it will give an indication of if the Mets need to make any moves at the MLB Trade Deadline to shore things up.

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