New York Mets lose big lead late; can prove costly to great start

Blowing a lead late against the Nationals could be costly to the New York Mets.

After a never-before-seen home run where Bryce Harper completely breaks his bat, Jacob deGrom performed brilliantly for the New York Mets. Going 7 1/3 giving up 3 runs on 6 hits, 1 walk with 12 strikeouts, deGrom was stellar.

Yet in the 8th inning, deGrom started the inning allowing 2 baserunners to reach with one out and was pulled from the game.

Then a complete collapse occurred as the Mets stellar bullpen at the start of the season came to a real breaking point.

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With runners on first and second with 1 out, Seth Lugo came in to face Howie Kendrick and walked him on 4 straight pitches. This is a crucial situation as arguably the most feared hitter in the league was on deck. Not challenging Howie Kendrick in that situation and trying to get the second out before Harper comes up completely changed the inning.

Jerry Blevins, the Mets lefty specialist, was tasked with Harper and failed as Harper singled through the second baseman and first baseman and the late-inning rally began as he scored two on the single.

Then the fourth pitcher to enter the game in the 8th inning was A.J. Ramos. After striking out Ryan Zimmerman, he proceeded to give up a single to Pedro Severino and then gives up a free run as he walks ex-Met Matt Reynolds on 4 pitches to cut the lead to 2 runs.

After that the FIFTH pitcher, yes the fifth pitcher in one inning entered as Jeurys Familia came in to stop the bleeding. He gave up a single to Wilmer Difo to make it a tie game. And then the erratic bullpen continues its woes as Familia hits Moises Sierra to make the bases loaded and then walks Michael Taylor to give up the lead.

This is such an important inning for the Mets pitching staff because they gave up 6 runs and blew a 5-run lead on basically free runs. They barely challenged any Nationals hitter as they could barely find the zone.

During this early season hot start, their bullpen was the one holding leads and shutting the door down. But in arguably one of their easier tasks since the start of the season they blow the game.

This situation is a crucial point of the Mets season. Yes, it is still very early, but this kind of collapse in a game can start doubt in the Mets staff and/or trust between the hitters and the pitchers ability to hold games. If this mindset creeps in the Mets locker room it can blow its early season prowess. And the next thing you know the Mets can go on a losing streak and their back at .500 battling for the lead in the NL East.

But this point can also show that this team can be special and can make a run this season. If they bounce back and win the series against the division rival Nationals, this Mets team can really surprise people this year.

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Their pitching staff can be dominant and their bullpen has shown it can shut down games. Their lineup has shown surprises this season such as Brandon Nimmo, Asdrubal Cabrera and Todd Frazier providing timely hits and depth for this lineup as each hitter is hitting over .300.

If all factors can click, and this pitching staff leads this team, the Mets can be a force. But first the Mets need to escape this early season lull that just transpired.

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