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New York Mets Fall to Washington Nationals in Another Pitchers Duel

By Michael Papandrea

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For a second straight game, the Washington Nationals offense was generated off one home run, but this time, it was enough to beat the New York Mets and their stagnant offense by a score of 2-1.

These low scoring games may be a theme when these two clubs face each other for their remaining 17 games this season, including the series finale tonight with Stephen Strasburg and Matt Harvey on the mound.

Jacob deGrom started the game for the Mets and ran into some trouble in his first inning. With two outs and a runner on first, long time National, Ryan Zimmerman, turned on a fastball to send it into the left field seats. DeGrom would settle down and smoothly work through 6 innings on 92 pitches, but the rest of the team came up short against the other Zimmerman. Despite giving up the home run, deGrom didn’t regret the pitch location.

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“That pitch was inside. He must have just been looking for it,” deGrom would go on to say after the game. “I looked at the video. I got it in where I wanted it. He just happened to hit it. … I was trying to show [a pitch] in there and then I was going to go back away. I felt like I threw it where I wanted to and he just put a good swing on it.”

The Mets had a great chance to get those two runs back for deGrom in the top of the second. With a run already scored after three straight singles, it was deGrom himself up at the plate, trying to lay down a bunt to move the runners to second and third. Instead, he would end up popping the bunt attempt up to a charging Ryan Zimmerman, who would make a great diving catch. After the game, deGrom was more upset about the failed bunt than the home run he gave up.

Up next was the number nine hitter in the lineup, Wilmer Flores. He would reach on an infield single to load the bases for Curtis Granderson. The Grandy Man was effective in the leadoff spot on opening day, drawing two walks against the latest ace on the Nationals staff, Max Scherzer. On this day, he would not have the same success as he failed to reach base and struck out looking at a pitch that should have been ball four, but was called a strike after a favorable frame from catcher Wilson Ramos.

That inning would end up being the best chance the Mets would get, as Jordan Zimmerman settled into a grove, retiring 11 consecutive batters before giving up a single to Lucas Duda. The Mets would struggle against the bullpen as well, as Craig Stammen, Blake Treinen, and closer Drew Storen would combine to shut them down in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings.

On a positive note, the bullpen for the Mets was equally as impressive as we saw Rafael Montero for the first time this season. With Jenrry Mejia out for now, Montero will likely pitch the 7th inning, and after striking out Zimmerman to end the 7th, he was rewarded with the 8th inning as well. As a former starter, Montero has the ability to pitch multiple innings, making him an even more attractive option out of the bullpen with a crowded starting rotation. Montero would make quick work of the Nats, pitching a 1-2-3 inning including a three pitch strikeout to Ian Desmond.

On a not so positive note, the Mets offense has struggled mightily so far against a stellar Nationals rotation. In the opener, they failed to collect an earned run but still capitalized on a pair of Ian Desmond errors. The lack of production is not concerning this early in the season, especially against Washington’s rotation, but they will eventually have to take some pressure of the pitching.

Next: Who made the Mets' roster out of Spring Training?

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