Mets Lose to Nationals; Losing Streak at 6

The Mets losing streak has reached six games following another defeat in Washington Wednesday night and another failure by the beleaguered bullpen.

Chris Young was cruising along, holding the Nationals scoreless through five. But in the sixth inning with a man on Adam LaRoche crushed a Young pitch to center for a two-run homer and a 2-0 lead.

Young was removed after the inning, allowing the two runs on six hits, striking out two and walking one.

Meantime Jordan Zimmermann baffled Mets batters all night. Davey Johnson did the Mets a favor by lifting him after six scoreless innings in which he allowed just four hits. Lucas Duda quickly jumped on reliever Tom Gorzelanny, doubling to right-center with one out in the seventh. He came around to score on an Andres Torres single to cut the deficit to 2-1.

So the Mets bullpen was once again tasked with keeping the game close in order to give the offense a chance to win. Of course, it could not. With two outs in the seventh Miguel Batista allowed a single to Jesus Flores and then Roger Bernadina hit a rocket off of Batista’s leg. The ball ended up in left field for a single. Steve Lombardozzi followed with a long drive to right that hit off the base of the wall for a two-run double and a 4-1 Nationals lead. Even though the ball was hit well, Duda didn’t seem to take the best route to it. Not saying he should have caught it, but a better fielder might have had a chance.

The Mets teased us in the ninth. David Wright led off  against closer Tyler Clippard with a home run to right to cut the lead to 4-2. Wright was three-for-four on the night, including his 30th double on the season. He now has 12 home runs and 60 RBIs to go along with a .351 batting average. With two outs Jason Bay hit a laser off the screen of the foul pole in left for a solo shot to bring the Mets to within a run, 4-3. But Clippard struck out Jordany Valdespin to end the game.

Mets lose 4-3. They play the Nats in a Thursday matinee in attempt to break out of this losing streak.

If only the bullpen didn’t let up any runs…