SteemSports Presenter:
SteemSports Editor:
A once-promising season has faded into a disappointing one for the New York Mets, and Tuesday's absolute pounding at the hands of the Nationals in Washington only added to their woes. The Nats managed to bring 12 batters to the plate - yes 12 batters in the first inning alone and smacked 7 runs across in the first frame. It was a night to forget for Steven Matz, as the left-hander was tagged for 8 hits and 7 runs while failing to get out of the first inning, leaving the game after only being able to record 2 outs.
The immediate relief wasn't any better as Jacob Rhame was tagged for 3 runs in each of the 2nd and 3rd innings, and the Nationals found themselves with a 13-0 lead through 3 innings. If that wasn't enough, they added 3 more in each of the 4th and 5th innings as well, and by the end of the 5th inning Washington had a 19-0 lead. As the Nats jumped out to a 3-touchdown lead, they received great pitching from starter Tanner Roark, who went 7 innings and surrendered just 4 hits and 1 run. He didn't issue a walk and struckout 7, lowering his ERA to 4.37 for the season and improving to 5-12.
Each of the first 4 pitchers that the Mets threw at the Nats over the first 5 innings gave up a minimum of 3 earned runs, but the next two relievers managed to finally get goose-eggs on the board in the 6th and 7th innings. In addition to the 19 runs they had already surrendered through 7 innings, the Mets had already used 6 pitchers, which cause them to turn to shortstop Jose Reyes of all people to pitch the bottom of the 8th.
The frame started easy enough for Reyes as he got Ryan Zimmerman to fly out to right to lead things off. A double, home run, 2 walks, and another home run later, and 5 more runs had crossed the plate. After a single and triple for good measure, the Nats plated 6 total in the bottom of the 8th to increase their lead all the way out to 25-1. The 3 runs by the Mets in the top of the 9th were as inconsequential as any ever scored. Reyes finished his foray into pitching with a stat-line of 1.0 inning pitched, 5 hits, 6 earned runs, 2 walks, and 1 hit batter with 2 home runs allowed.
All 12 batters who made at least 1 plate appearance got at least 1 hit in the game for the Nationals. Trea Turner led the way with 4 hits, going 4/6 with a walk and 4 runs scored. Anthony Rendon, Juan Soto, Daniel Murphy, and Michael Taylor all had 3 hits a piece. Murphy had an especially big game, finishing 3/4 with a pair of home runs, and 6 RBI. Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, and starting pitcher Tanner Roark all had 2 hits each as 8 different players had a multi-hit game for the Nats. Roark finished 2/5 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored, Zimmerman homered and Harper doubled as Washington piled up 25 runs off 26 hits in the game.
The win pushed the Nationals back to .500 at 53-53 while the Mets dropped to 44-60 on the season. Lefty Tommy Milone (0-0, 5.40 ERA) is scheduled to take on Noah Syndergaard (6-1, 2.89 ERA) on Wednesday afternoon in the 2nd of 5 consecutive games between the two clubs. The 25-run outburst for the Nationals comes a night after being shutout by the Marlins in a 5-0 loss. Despite heavy speculation, the Mets did not move Jake deGrom before the deadline on Tuesday, and will hope that their young rotation can keep them somewhat competitive throughout the rest of the season.
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