The Mets recorded just four hits in a 7-1 defeat to the Washington Nationals on Saturday night.
Here are some key takeaways…
- Max Scherzer started his evening with a strikeout, but Luis Garcia, the second batter of the game, promptly greeted Scherzer with a solo home run on a first-pitch fastball, giving the Nats an early lead.
Scherzer didn’t have overpowering stuff Saturday night, but he still held the Nats to just one run over 5.0 innings. But in a sight that no Mets fan wants to see, Scherzer exited the game after those five innings, walking down the tunnel with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.
Scherzer, who spent a month and a half on the IL with an oblique strain earlier this season, allowed one run on three hits, striking out five and walking just one.
The Mets later announced that Scherzer left the game after 'feeling fatigued on his left side."
- For the second straight night, Eduardo Escobar supplied some power (this time from the right side of the plate). With the Mets trailing by a run in the third, Escobar slammed a solo home run off of Patrick Corbin, tying the game with his 14th homer of the season.
- Corbin has had a rough season, entering the game with a 6.56 ERA and a 5-17 record, but the lefty was on his game Saturday night. Featuring a good mix of sinkers, changeups and breaking balls, Corbin held the Mets to one run over his 7.0 innings of work, allowing just three hits while striking out five and walking one.
- With the game still tied in the top of the eighth inning, Adam Ottavino allowed the go-ahead home run to Lane Thomas, a towering fly to left field for his 15th homer of the season. Ottavino had been working on a string of seven straight scoreless appearances.
- In the bottom of the eighth, the Mets had a chance to tie the game or take the lead with two on and two outs for Francisco Lindor. With Carl Edwards Jr. on the mound, Lindor popped up on the infield to end the threat.
After the Mets failed to capitalize in the eighth, things fell apart for Adonis Medina in the ninth. The righty allowed five runs on five hits while recording just one out before Buck Showalter went to Bryce Montas de Oca, who came in for his major league debut. Montes de Oca recorded his first career strikeout as he finished the inning without further damage.