Game Recaps

Mets Fall to Nationals; R.A. Dickey Loses

When will the bleeding stop? Not Tuesday night, as the Mets dropped yet another game to the Nationals as the slide into irrelevance continues.

R.A. Dickey loses 1st game since April
R.A. Dickey loses 1st game since April

The Mets got on the board in the second inning — Scott Hairston reached on an error, later stole second and scored on a Ronny Cedeno single.

The Nationals tied it in the fourth when Danny Espinosa doubled in Ryan Zimmerman.

It remained a pitchers duel between R.A. Dickey and Gio Gonzalez until the sixth, when with two outs the Nationals got to Dickey. Michael Morse singled and Adam LaRoche launched one into the Pepsi Porch to make it 3-1. Espinosa and Roger Bernadina both singled and then Jesus Flores singled, driving in Espinosa. However Jason Bay’s throw home short hopped Mike Nikeas, getting behind him to allow Bernadina to score from first on the throwing error. 5-1 Nats.

Dickey was done after the inning, letting up five runs (four earned) on eight hits. He struck out seven over six innings. His record falls to 13-2 — Dickey’s first loss since April 18. His ERA is up to 2.97.

Jordany Valdespin hit a pinch hit home run to lead off the eighth, a line drive over the wall in right to make it 5-2. It was his fifth pinch hit homer of the season and his seventh home run overall.

You can’t blame the bullpen for this one — Manny Acosta, Josh Edgin (three strikeouts) and Ramon Ramirez each pitched scoreless innings.

The Mets lose 5-2. They have now lost five in a row and 10 of 11 games since the All-Star break, one of the worst stretches for the Mets in recent memory; not only the loses, but the way they’ve been losing. They are 47-50, 10 and a half games behind the Nationals in the NL East. And they get Stephen Strasburg on Wednesday. Sad times indeed.


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